Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polarimetric Radar Signatures and Performance of Various Radar Rainfall Estimators during an Extreme Precipitation Event over the Thousand-Island Lake Area in Eastern China

<p>Polarimetric radar provides more choices and advantages for quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE). Utilizing the C-band polarimetric (CPOL) radar in Hangzhou, China, six radar QPE estimators based on the horizontal reflectivity (<em>Z</em><sub>H</sub>), the specific attenuation (<em>A</em><sub>H</sub>), the specific differential phase (<em>K</em><sub>DP</sub>), and their corresponding double-parameters that further integrate the differential reflectivity (<em>Z</em><sub>DR</sub>), namely <em>R</em>(<em>Z</em><sub>H</sub>, <em>Z</em><sub>DR</sub>), <em>R</em>(<em>K</em><sub>DP</sub>, <em>Z</em><sub>DR</sub>) and <em>R</em>(<em>A</em><sub>H</sub>, <em>Z</em><sub>DR</sub>), are investigated for an extreme precipitation event occurred in Eastern China on 1 June 2016. These radar QPE estimators are respectively evaluated and compared with a local rain gauge network and drop size distribution (DSD) data observed by two disdrometers. The results show that (i) Each radar QPE estimator has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on the specific rainfall patterns, and it can outperform other estimators at a certain period of time; (ii) although <em>R</em>(<em>A</em><sub>H</sub>, <em>Z</em><sub>DR</sub>) underestimates in the light rain pattern, it performs best of all radar QPE estimators according to statistical scores; (iii) Both the optimal radar rainfall relationship and the consistency between radar measurements aloft and surface observations are required to obtain accurate rainfall estimates close to the ground. The contamination of melting solid hydrometeors on <em>A</em><sub>H</sub> and/or <em>K</em><sub>DP </sub>may make them less effective than <em>Z</em><sub>H</sub>. In addition, appropriate &#945; coefficient can eliminate the melting impact on the <em>A</em><sub>H</sub>-based rainfall estimator. </p>
Multi-task Learning Applied to Biomedical Named Entity Recognition Task

Recent deep learning techniques have shown significant improvements in biomedical named entity recognition task. However, such techniques are still facing challenges; one of them is related to the limited availability of annotated text data. In this perspective, with a multi-task approach, simultaneously training different related tasks enables multi-task models to learn common features among different tasks where they share some layers with each other. It is desirable to used stacked long-short term memories (LSTMs) in such models to deal with a large amount of training data and to learn the underlying hidden structure in the data. However, the stacked LSTMs approach also leads to the vanishing gradient problem. To alleviate this limitation, we propose a multi-task model based on convolution neural networks, stacked LSTMs, and conditional random fields and use embedding information at different layers. The model proposed shows results comparable to state-of-the-art approaches. Moreover, we performed an empirical analysis of the proposed model with different variations to see their impact on our model.
Differentiated thyroid carcinoma : nuclear medicine studies

The therapy of choice in patients suffering from differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), subdivided into papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma, is (near-)total thyroidectomy. This is routinely followed by the administration of radioiodine (RaI)-131 (131I) to destroy any remaining benign or malignant thyroid tissue, so-called ablation. This thesis has addressed some important clinical questions, related to the application of conventional (131I) and experimental therapies with radionuclides in DTC. Iodine-131 has been used for many years to ablate thyroid remnants following thyroid surgery, but a single optimal activity has not yet been established. Two protocols are commonly used in the Netherlands: the uptake-related ablation strategy in which relatively low activities of 131I are used and the fixed-dose or tumor-related ablation strategy in which higher ablation activities are used. The main aim of this thesis was to study the short-term and long-term outcome parameters in DTC according to the uptake-related ablation protocol and to compare the success rates of both ablation strategies. Furthermore, we investigated whether there was a relation between ablation failure and pre-ablation 24-hour uptake measurement of 131I (by the so-called stunning effect). By assessing the prevalence of second primary tumors in patients treated for thyroid cancer we wanted to confirm that 131I can be used safely regarding long-term effects. Finally, this thesis focused on 111In-DTPA-octreotide scintigraphy and therapy as an alternative tool in progressive radioiodine non-responsive thyroid cancer.
No end of care? : informal care for older parents in Britain between 1985 and 2000

This study is concerned with the issue of substitution between formal and informal care in Britain between 1985 and 2000. This period provides the conditions for a ‘natural experiment’ in social policy. During the late 1980s/early 1990s, there was a rapid increase in long-stay residential care for older people, which came to an end around the mid-1990s. The key issues examined here are whether this increase in formal services led to a decline in provision of informal care, and whether this was subsequently reversed. For reasons identified in the literature review, the focus is on provision of intense informal care by adult children to their older parents, trends in which are identified using General Household Survey data. The study shows that there was a significant decline in provision of intense and very intense co-resident care for older parents between 1985 and 1995, which came to an end in the mid-1990s. A number of potential explanations for these trends are explored, including supply-side explanations in terms of changes in socio-demographic factors and employment rates, and an alternative demand-side explanation in terms of changes in ‘spouse care’. The study finds that, under certain circumstances, key trends in intergenerational care were negatively related to changes in long-stay residential care. In particular, the study finds evidence of substitution effects between nursing home/hospital care and very intense co-resident care for older parents provided by adult children for 50 hours a week or more. A key policy implication is that an expansion of very intense formal services for older people could bring about a decline in some of the most intense forms of intergenerational care for older people. The study relates these conclusions to options around reform of the long-term care system currently under consultation in England following the recent Green Paper on social care.
Identifying and Exploiting Opportunities for ‘Clean, Green and Ethical’ Animal Production

La demanda del mercado para producción animal ‘limpia, verde y ética’ está creciendo. Para identificar y explotar oportunidades de mercado para productos ‘limpias, verdes y éticas’ en las industrias animales necesitamos una aproximación a la innovación agrícola que conecte efectivamente los consumidores con los productores, científicos y otros interesados industriales. Usando el caso de ‘mulesing’ en la industria Australiana de la lana, destacamos las restricciones de la aproximación tradicional de ‘transferencia de tecnología’ a los procesos de innovación apuntados al desarrollo de tecnologías y productos que buscan cumplir con las demandas de consumidores ‘éticos’. Al examinar el caso de ‘mulesing’ en la industria Australiana de la lana y la respuesta de consumidores a prendas ‘limpias, verdes y éticas’, podemos articular una aproximación alternativa a la innovación que apoya el involucramiento temprano y sostenido de consumidores, productores y otros interesados influyentes en la innovación y en el proceso de diseño de productos. Finalmente, esta aproximación flexible y de colaboración a la innovación, conocida como ‘investigación y desarrollo de cuarta generación’, puede ayudar las industrias animales a identificar y explotar nuevas oportunidades de mercado para productos ‘limpios, verdes, y éticos’.
Scaling Up a Strengthened Youth-Friendly Service Delivery Model to Include Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives in Ethiopia: A Mixed Methods Retrospective Assessment

Background: Donor funded projects are small scale and time limited, with gains that soon dissipate when donor funds end. This paper presents findings that sought to understand successes, challenges and barriers that influence the scaling up and sustainability of a tested, strengthened youth-friendly service (YFS) delivery model providing an expanded contraceptive method choice in one location – the YFS unit – with additional units in Amhara and Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: This retrospective mixed methods study included interviews with key informants (KIs) (qualitative arm) and analysis of family planning (FP) uptake statistics extracted from the sampled health facilities (quantitative arm). A multistage convenience purposive sampling technique was adopted to randomly select 8 health facilities aligned with respective woredas, zones and regional health bureaus (RHBs). A semi-structured interview guide soliciting information on 6 scaling-up elements (stakeholder engagement, roles and responsibility, policy environment, financial resources, quality of voluntary FP services and data availability and use) guided the interviews. Fifty-six KI interviews were conducted with policy-makers, program managers, and clinic staff. Recurring themes were triangulated across administrative levels and implementing partners. Relevant FP data (acceptor status, age and method uptake) were extracted from the 8 sampled health facilities for a thirteen-month period. Qualitative findings triangulated with FP service statistics assessed the influence of the 6 scaling-up elements with trends in long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) uptake before and after training. Results: Our findings depict that respondents were knowledgeable and supportive of an expanded method mix. Statistically significant increases in long-acting contraceptive uptake were noted at 2 of the 8 health centers. Fidelity to the tested model was operationally constrained; respondents frequently mentioned trained staff absences and turnover as obstacles in offering quality FP services. Conclusion: Despite conducive policy environment, supportive stakeholders, favorable environment, and financial support for trainings, statistically significant increases in LARC uptake occurred at only 2 of the 8 health centers; indicating the influence of weak health systems, poor quality of voluntary FP services and a ceiling effect. Scale-up processes must consider potential bottlenecks of weak health systems and availability of financial resources by addressing these as crucial elements in any systematic scale-up framework.
The Professional Development of Graduate Students in Economics

This paper provides insight into the skill development activities of graduate students at U.S. institutions providing graduate education in economics. It documents the extent of student participation in and preparation for research and teaching activities while in graduate school. Over fifty percent of students are involved in teaching related activities including grading, leading recitation sections, and teaching their own sections with and without guidance. Most were generally satisfied with their preparation. About fifty-five percent of graduate students attend economic conferences, twenty percent present papers, twenty-two percent submit papers and ten percent have published. Important differences by assistantship assignments, institutional rank, and gender in such activities are highlighted. Findings suggest that programs could do more to prepare students for participation in professional activities post graduation.
Reaching goals through different means: will and cognition in the action of people with low and high action control

results The first investigation revealed that the intention of saving money is achieved through the mechanism of implementation intention. It was found that people with a low level of action control (state-orientation) and people with a high level of action control (action-orientation) implement a similar level of saving behavior. However, they do so in different ways. Action-oriented participants also seemed to make plans, and these plans supported goal attainment, though this process did not affect behavior to the same degree as for state-oriented participants. The results are discussed, drawing on the Julius Kuhl Action Control Theory as well as its explication which is the Theory of Personality Systems Interactions.
A Formulation of the Thrust Coefficient for Representing Finite-Sized Farms of Tidal Energy Converters

Tidal energy converter (TEC) arrays in tidal channels generate complex flow phenomena due to interactions with the local environment and among devices. Models with different resolutions are thus employed to study flows past TEC farms, which consider multiple spatial and temporal scales. Simulations over tidal cycles use mesoscale ocean circulation models, incorporating a thrust coefficient to model the momentum sink that represents the effects of the array. In this work, we propose an expression for a thrust coefficient to represent finite-sized farms of TEC turbines at larger scales, C t F a r m , which depends on the spatial organization of the devices. We use a coherent-structure resolving turbulence model coupled with the actuator disk approach to simulate staggered turbine configurations in more detail, varying the separation among devices and the ratios between the channel depths and hub heights. Based on these simulations, we calculate the resultant force for various subsets of devices within the farm, and their corresponding effective thrust coefficient, C t F a r m . We conclude that the thrust coefficient depends solely on the lateral separation of the devices, S y , for farms with only two rows. For farms with more than two rows, the streamwise distance, S x , must be considered as well. With the proposed expression, it is possible to calculate efficiently the effects of finite-sized TEC farms and incorporate a momentum sink into ocean circulation models, without assuming a constant coefficient derived from an infinite farm approximation.
PVBR-Recog: A YOLOv3-based Brazilian Automatic License Plate Recognition Tool

Vehicle’s license plate detection and recognition is a task with several practical applications. It can be applied, for example, in the security segment, identifying stolen cars and controlling cars entry/exit in private areas. This work presents a Deep Learning based tool that uses the cascaded YOLOv3 to simultaneously detect and recognize vehicle plate. In experiments performed, our tool got a recall of 95% in plate detection and 96.2% accuracy in the recognition of the 7 characters of the license plate.
Teaching Writing to EFL Student Teachers: Teachers' Intervention and No Teachers' Intervention through Peer Feedback Writing Techniques

The purpose of this study was to find out the impacts of teachers' intervention and no teachers' intervention peer feedback writing techniques (PFWT) on English as a foreign language (EFL) student teachers' essay writing ability and their perceptions of learning activities viewed on their level of writing anxiety. The study was conducted in one English education study program at an Indonesian state Islamic university. Writing tests were used to find out whether or not the treatments had the impact on student teachers' essay writing achievement while a questionnaire was used to gain student teachers' perceptions of writing activities. Two groups of student teachers taking a writing course were selected as participants. Data were analyzed by using Two Way ANOVA, Descriptive statistics analysis, and non-parametric test. The findings indicated that no teachers' intervention PFWT had a significant impact on student teachers' writing ability and the impact was influenced by the different levels of students' writing anxiety. Additionally, teachers' intervention PFWT had a significant effect on both students' having low and high writing anxiety. Finally, students having low writing anxiety perceived teachers' intervention PFWT more positively compared to those having high writing anxiety.
The Effect of Increasing Blood Flow Rate on Dialysis Adequacy in Hemodialysis Patients with Low Kt/V

Dialysis adequacy indexed by Kt/V in hemodialysis (HD) patients is recommended as a single-pool Kt/V of at least 1.2 per session thrice weekly. But many patients cannot achieve this adequacy target. Although dialysis time is the most important as a factor influencing Kt/V, it is difficult to prolong dialysis time in practice because of its economic impact and poor patient compliance. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of increasing blood flow rate on dialysis adequacy in HD patients with low Kt/V. Methods: This study enrolled 36 HD patients with single-pool Kt/V 65 kg. And then we compared Kt/V and urea reduction ratio (URR) between before and after increasing blood flow rate. Results: The mean age was 48 ± 11 years (23–73 years), and the number of males was 25. Of the total patients, 24 patients had dry weight <65 kg. Mean dialysis duration was 52 ± 50 months (3–216 months). Mean Kt/V before increasing blood flow rate was 1.02 ± 0.09. It increased to 1.14 ± 0.12 after increasing blood flow rate (p < 0.001). Of the total 36 patients, 13 patients (36.1%) achieved adequacy target (Kt/V ≤ 1.2). Mean URR before increasing blood flow rate was 56.9 ± 4.0%. It also increased to 60.8 ± 4.1% (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our data suggest that increasing blood flow rate by 15–20% of previous flow rate is effective in achieving dialysis adequacy in HD patients with low Kt/V.
University Students and Entrepreneurship: An Empirical Analysis on Italian Universities

This paper investigates the level and the determinant factors of interest to entrepreneurship among university undergraduate students in Italy. The aim of the research is to measure how the attitudes are relevant in the decision-making process that leads the student to approach entrepreneurship and to understand if institutions can support this process. The research is based on a survey carried out under the GUESSS Project in 2016 on 4,446 students from 39 Italian universities
Ownership structure, firm performance and corruption: An empirical analysis of EU countries

The aim of the paper is to analyse the interaction effect corruption play in the relation between ownership structure and firm performance. This paper analyses whether and how the Corruption Perception Index affects the relationship between corporate performance and ownership structure in 2,035 firms operating in eight European countries (Denmark, Sweden, Germany, France, Finland, The Netherland, Italy, and Spain) during 2010-2017 period (10,915 firm year observations). Our findings show that level of corruption perceived by investors is relevant to the relationship between ownership concentration and firm performance. This result suggests that institutional context variables should be taken into consideration from corporate governance scholars in their empirical investigations. The contribution of the paper is twofold: first, our results evidence the relevant role played by the interaction effects between firm-level and country-level variables; second, it suggests important managerial and policy implications related to the interaction between internal and external corporate governance mechanisms.
Time Series from Clustering: An Approach to Forecast Crime Patterns

This chapter presents an approach to forecast criminal patterns that combines the time series from clustering method with a computational intelligence-based prediction. In this approach, clusters of criminal events are parametrized according to simple geometric prototypes. Cluster dynamics are captured as a set of time series. The size of this set corresponds to the number of clusters multiplied by the number of parameters per cluster. One of the main drawbacks of clustering is the difficulty of defining the optimal number of clusters. The paper also deals with this problem by introducing a validation index of dynamic partitions of crime events that relates the optimal number of clusters with the foreseeability of time series by means of non-linear analysis. The method as well as the validation index was tested over two cases of reported urban crime. Our results showed that crime clusters can be predicted by forecasting their representative time series using an evolutionary adaptive neural fuzzy inference system. Thus, we argue that the foreseeability of these series can be anticipated satisfactorily by means of the proposed index.
Stress, depression and anxiety in adults with autism

The aim of this study is to examine the issue of mood and anxiety issues comorbidity in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There were a total of 120 participants in this study. Participants were gathered through Aspire, the Asperger association of Ireland. Three tools were used, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21, Perceived Stress Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. This study was a cross-sectional survey with closed questioning. it was found that those with Asperger’s Syndrome expressed higher levels of perceived stress, depression, anxiety and less social support than neurotypicals. It was found that those in therapy reported higher levels of perceived stress than those not in therapy. Results showed there was no significant difference in perceived stress or perceived social support between the sexes. These findings support prior research suggesting that Asperger’s Syndrome comes with an increased amount of stress, anxiety, depression and a decreased perception of social support in comparison to neurotypicals. STRESS AND ANXIETY IN ADULTS WITH AUTISM 7 Stress, Depression and Anxiety in Adults with Autism The aim of this present study is to shed light upon the issue of mood and anxiety issues comorbidity in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This type of study is extremely relevant as according to the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network approximately 1 in 68 children have been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder worldwide (“Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)”, 2016) which emphasises the need for structured data. This is an area with abundant research related to it yet limitation in approaches are equally plentiful. This can be seen in the lack of clear consensus when it comes to which measures suit autism best which leads to data that is cross comparable yet weak in the face of what could be found with a ubiquitous measure, as confirmed by White, Oswald, Ollendick and Scahill (2009) in their review of forty papers on the subject. The research gathered here suggests that individuals with autism are at more risk of anxiety and mood related disorders than neurotypicals. A major flaw of a number of said research is the focus on children and adolescents (adolescents particularly, as this time has been found to come with increased difficulty (Mechanic, 1983) due to the biological and social changes natural to this period of development) as it does not encapsulate the entire spectrum of the disorder itself, for example a significant number of those diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) were diagnosed later in their lives. By focusing on adults this present study will seek to fill in the gaps and add to the body of knowledge.