Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards a more reproducible ecology

of research papers. But this development also poses some important challenges. The large amount of project-specific software being generated for analytical studies means that analytical standards are harder to establish, potentially limiting the reproducibility of much of recently published science. Also, analytical and coding errors may escape detection, with potentially highly problematic results, such as when Geoffrey Chang and colleagues had to retract three Science papers after discovering an error in a homemade data-analysis program (Miller 2006). Substantial progress in our understanding of ecology rests on trustworthy, reproducible and transparent data analysis. Reproducibility is the very hallmark of the scientific method. However, there is an increasing concern that many studies today might not be reproducible. The focus on novelty in ‘high-impact’ journals means that there is little incentive for researchers to directly replicate published studies, and this lack of replication of studies has come under increasing scrutiny (Iqbal et al. 2016, The Economist 2016). What is more worrying, efforts to systematically replicate published studies have often failed (Open Science Collaboration 2015). This is so concerning that it has lead to the founding of a new journal dedicated explicitly to the replication of published results (the Preclinical Reproducibility and Robustness channel of F1000 opened 4 February 2016). A recent comment in Nature magazine (Allison et al. 2016) reported on the widespread problem of reproducibility in the natural sciences, and gave a sobering account of the obstacles to overcoming it, which includes the pressure on researchers to publish, the lack of established pathways for dealing with non-reproducible articles, and consistent issues with the statistical treatment of data (Krumholz 2016, The Economist 2016). Ecology faces particular challenges in reproducibility because data collection is often context dependent (Ellison 2010), and because there are few established standards for storing metadata and facilitating study replication. The keys to a greater level of reproducibility in ecology are to establish analytical protocols that are robust and transparent, to faithfully document the analytical process including any failed attempts, and to ensure that the storage and acquisition of data is documented and includes the appropriate metadata. Fortunately, recent technological developments Ecography 39: 349–353, 2016 doi: 10.1111/ecog.02493 © 2016 The Authors. Ecography © 2016 Nordic Society Oikos
Real-time co-creation and nowness service: lessons from tourism and hospitality

ABSTRACT Brands take advantage of technology, social media and constant connectivity to foster organic consumer engagement and interactions towards co-creating personalised customer service. Real-time service offers dynamic engagement with connected consumers. Brands in tourism and hospitality use technology to dynamically enhance consumer experience through co-creation. The integration of real-time consumer intelligence, dynamic big data mining, artificial intelligence, and contextualisation can transform service co-creation by mobilising recourses in the ecosystem. Nowness service emerges by dynamically engaging consumers in experience cocreation in real time. It has five interconnected characteristics that revolutionise the tourism and hospitality, namely: real-time, co-creation, data-driven, consumer-centric and experience co-creation.
Anthropometric Characteristics of Female and Male Athletes Bear A Different Effect on Fitness

Background: Anthropometric variables are highly related to physical performance, being used for the control and monitoring of athletes in different sports. However, whether anthropometric characteristics of female and male athletes bear a different effect on fitness must be determined. Objectives: To relate anthropometric characteristics and fitness of female in comparison with male athletes. Methods: College athletes (n = 189, 112 males) were assessed in weight, height, body mass index, lower and upper body power, agility,
DEHYDRATION AND REHYDRATION STUDIES

DEHYDRATION AND REHYDRATION STUDIES 413 Dehydroxylation and rehydroxylation processes in minerals of the montmorillonite group are studied in this paper through infrared absorption spectra. Samples studied consist of a montmorillonite from Tidinit (Morocco), which contains A1 as main occupant of the octahedral positions, and a nontronite from Utah. 1 Both samples previously had been characterized by X-rays. These samples were dispersed in water, and the fraction < 1/~ was separated. Films of adequate concentration were prepared from the suspension by permitt ing it to evaporate on a plastic support plate. These films were withdrawn from the support plate and heated, and then their infrared absorption spectra between 2 and 15~ were obtained with a Perkin-Elmer 21 spectrometer equipped with a NaC1 prism. Figs. 1 and 2 show the infrared absorption spectra of both samples, dried at room temperature and at 200 ~ In this lat ter case, Nujol ~ was used in order to prevent rehydration, and the spectra were obtained at two different angles of incidence, in order to ascertain whether the absorption bands showed some polarization. Adsorbed water gives rise to a broad band around 3400 cm -1, modified by a weak shoulder at 3240 cm -1, and a simpler band around 1640 cm -1. These three bands disappear when the samples are heated at 200 ~
Freeze-drying of maple syrup: Efficient protocol formulation and evaluation of powder physicochemical properties

Abstract An efficient two-step protocol for freeze-drying of dark grade maple syrup was developed from glass transition temperature determinations, online-thermal history, and drying kinetics. Maple sugar powders (MSP), produced under two drying times (25 and 30 h), were analyzed for their physicochemical properties. Moisture content and water activity (aw) of MSP were determined to be in the range of 3–4% dry basis and 0.19–0.21 aw, respectively. The powders exhibited fair to poor flow characteristic owing to its cohesiveness. However, they have instant-like properties with dissolution times shorter than 14 s. MSP were highly hygroscopic, requiring to be stored below 0.36 aw at ambient temperature.
OPTIMIZATION METHODS IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION LESSONS FOR GIRLS IN THE SECOND AND THE THIRD GRADES

Background. Theoretical analysis of research papers allowed us to establish that physical preparation of pupils in elementary grades as an area of scientific and pedagogical knowledge was not investigated enough. Despite great efforts to cover a lot of questions and undoubted theoretical and practical significance of educational research, it should be noted that the problem of physical education for younger pupils using sports games in the lessons of physical education remains open to theoretical understanding and experimental study. There is a lack of specific studies that reveal the basic trends and ways to optimize the studied phenomenon. Worsening situation in the area of physical training in junior classes and individual indicators of health status in the country encourages looking for scientific solutions of the problem. Research aim was to define the most effective methods of physical education for 8–9-year-old girls, learners of the second and third grades, during physical education lessons including elements of sports games in a comprehensive school. Methods. Research participants were 64 girls from the second and the third grades. They were divided into 4 groups – 3 experimental groups and one control group. During the experiment, group E1 was allotted 75% of the time of the lesson for training technical actions of sports, group E2 – 50% in E3 – 25%, for the development of physical skills – 25, 50 and 75% respectively. The effectiveness of the proposed program was estimated by the changes in the indicators of physical development and general physical fitness. Results and conclusions. Physical development of girls during the school year changed considerably. The most clearly expressed change was noted in the results of the changes in the girls’ body weight, from 20.32 to 23.24% in all groups. No significant differences between the experimental and control groups in terms of physical development were identified. Indicators of general physical fitness for the whole period of the experiment significantly increased in all the groups studied (p < .05–.001). They may be divided into two groups: • The first group included indicators which were significantly higher in the experimental group E3, where more time was devoted to physical training (running at 30 m, the hand strength) during the physical education lessons; • The second group included indicators which were significantly higher in the experimental group E1, where more time was devoted to sports (long jump, making a shot, running 3 x 10 m) during physical education lessons. Thus, the lessons of physical education with elements of sports promoted more intensive development of the overall fitness of girls aged 8–9 years compared to those who attended physical education lessons conducted according to the general curriculum.
Please Scroll down for Article International Journal of Control Stabilization of Linear Systems with Simultaneous State, Actuation, and Measurement Delays S Tabilization of Linear Systems with Simultaneous State, Actuation, and Measurement Delays

This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution , reselling , loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. This paper considers the problem of stabilizing continuous-time linear systems with time delays. Speci® cally, a ® xed-order (i.e. full-and reduced-order) dynamic compensation problem is addressed for systems with simultaneous state, input, and output delays. The principal result involves su cient conditions for characterizing ® xed-order dynamic controllers for delay systems via a system of modi® ed coupled Riccati equations. The controllers obtained are delay independent and hence apply to systems with arbitrary unknown delay.
On the static output feedback stabilisation of discrete event dynamic systems based upon the approach of semi-tensor product of matrices

ABSTRACT In this paper, the static output feedback stabilisation of discrete event dynamic systems (DEDSs) is investigated via the semi-tensor product (STP) of matrices. Firstly, the dynamics of DEDSs modelled by deterministic Moore-type finite automata are converted into an matrix expression in the STP frame. Secondly, necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a static output feedback control pattern, stabilising the controlled discrete event dynamic systems to some equilibrium point, are given, and constructive algorithms to seek the static output feedback control pattern including an effective specific solution algorithm and an analytic solution algorithm are proposed. Thirdly, the equilibrium-based static output feedback stabilisation of DEDSs is extended to the set-based static output feedback stabilisation and necessary and sufficient conditions and constructive algorithms to seek the corresponding control pattern are provided. Finally, some examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Relationships between Sport, Work and Leisure-Time Physical Activity among Lithuanian University Students

Research background and hypothesis. Other than sport physical activity which occurs in occupational, leisure and domestic sectors is often overlooked, meanwhile it also affects health. Previous research revealed that energy expenditure in occupational, domestic and leisure-time domains may inﬂ uence energy expenditure in sports or exercising domain. University students are understudied population in this area. We expected that lower work and leisure-time activity among university students would be associated with their higher sports related activity. Research aim was to examine relationships between sport, work and leisure-time activities in a sample of university students. Research methods. The ﬁ nal sample consisted of 867 students from four Lithuanian universities, 195 (22.5%) were males, their age ranged from 18 to 22 years. Baecke Questionnaire of Habitual Activity (Baecke et al., 1982) was used to assess work, leisure-time and sport physical activity. Research results. Male students scored signiﬁ cantly higher than female in work and sport activity (p < 0.0001), but not in leisure-time activity (p = 0.61). Males and females who were more active in their occupational domain were also twice more active in sports-related activities (OR = 2.22 [95% CI 1.25–3.93] and OR = 2.14 [95% CI, 1.50–3.04] respectively). Females who were more active in leisure-time domain were almost twice more active in sports-related activities (OR = 1.65 [95% CI 1.22–2.21]) as well. Discussion and conclusions. Analysis of the relationships between sports, work and leisure-time physical activities did not conﬁ rm our expectation. The results of the current study revealed that lower physical activity in occupational or leisure-time domains did not determine higher sports related physical activity. Sports-related activity and physical activity in other domains can coexist together in the population of students and possibly depends on variables which inﬂ uence them all. In further research, the broader set of variables inﬂ uencing university students’ habitual physical activity should be taken into account.Keywords: habitual physical activity, physical activity domains, occupation of university students.
Comparison of probability density functions for total specific humidity and saturation deficit humidity, and consequences for cloud parametrization

Various models which predict cloud variables use probability density functions of either specific humidity or saturation deficit humidity to represent subgrid‐scale variations. Using the former is considered to be an approximation since it does not allow variation of dew‐point across the grid. In this paper the validity of that approximation is investigated and typical errors incurred are stated. Aircraft data from subtropical regions and tethered‐balloon data from midlatitudes are examined to compare differences between the two types of distribution. The average relative error in cloud fraction introduced by assuming a constant value of saturation across a grid is found to be approximately half an okta. However, results suggest that there is a fixed relation between the widths of both distributions allowing easy conversion between the two. © Royal Meteorological Society, 2002. J. D. Price's contribution is Crown copyright.
Energy and emission reduction efficiency of China’s industry sector: a non-radial directional distance function analysis

Abstract Nowadays, as China has become the factory of the world, China’s industrial sectors have become the country’s main source of energy consumption and emissions including CO2, SO2, NOx and soot. This article will use the non-radial directional dispersion function model (DDF) to explore ways to improve both the energy efficiency and the emission efficiency of China’s industrial sectors. Based on current research, this article proposes a new projected input for the treatment of industrial waste gas, and optimizes the projected input and output settings. The data analysis shows that there is room for improvement in China’s energy efficiency, and its regional imbalances have expanded. The Chinese government is urged to pay more attention to the improvement of energy efficiency in the central and western regions, and to provide more policy support. Simultaneously, the paper attemtps to establish measurement indexes to improve the efficiency of emission reduction. As a result, the authors suggest that increasing government expenditure can play a positive role in the overall improvement of emission reduction efficiency.
The impact of wave-modified wind stress in an ocean circulation model

Uma parametrizacao da tensao do vento dependente das ondas de superficie foi introduzida no modelo de circulacao oceânico HYCOM. O processo fisico que rege essa parametrizacao e o crescimento e a dissipacao do campo de ondas. Dois experimentos numericos foram realizados para a regiao do Oceano Atlântico Sul: um com o novo efeito devido as ondas e um de controle, sem informacao das ondas e utilizado como referencia para comparacao. Todos os campos de forcantes foram produzidos com base nos dados da reanalise ERA-20C do ECMWF. Uma caracterizacao espacial e temporal do fluxo de quantidade de movimento sob influencia das ondas mostrou, em media, um fluxo mais fraco para todo o dominio (-7% de diferenca de tensao). Eventos positivos, nos quais a tensao modificada pelas ondas e mais intensa que a tensao classica, acontecem durante intensas tempestades, principalmente na regiao sul do dominio (ate +59% de diferenca de tensao). A resposta oceânica de longo prazo a diferenca de tensoes mostra uma forte modificacao da TSM em duas areas especificas: a Confluencia Brazil Malvinas (ate -0.9 graus) e a Ressurgencia de Benguela (ate +1.1 graus). As diferencas de TSM sao consistentes com os processos fisicos sendo modificados pelas ondas (por exemplo, nos casos citados a modificacao no bombeamento de Ekman). Os processos fisicos relativos as ondas responsaveis por eventos positivos sao ilustrados durante duas tempestades: uma na parte sul do dominio e uma perto da costa brasileira. Diferencas positivas intensas da corrente em superficie sao registradas, com valores de ate 0,56 m/s, diferenca representando 43% da abordagem classica. Estas diferencas encontram-se correlacionadas com a idade e a esbeltez das ondas.
Foreign Direct Investment, Exports and Economic Growth in SIDS: Evidence from Saint Lucia

This paper examines the causal relationships among FDI, exports, and GDP in SIDS using data for Saint Lucia over the period 1980-2015. Using the ARDL bounds test approach to assess cointegration, results indicate that the variables share a long-run relationship when GDP and FDI are the dependent variables. Employing the Toda-Yamamoto test to assess long-run causal linkages, results indicate bi-directional causality between GDP and FDI, unidirectional causality from exports to GDP, and, unidirectional causality from FDI to exports. Accordingly, this paper finds evidence of export led-growth and FDI-led growth in Saint Lucia. These findings suggest that Saint Lucia should continue policies aimed at attracting FDI and expanding the export sector to promote economic growth. Additionally, policies which can diversify the types of FDI that Saint Lucia is currently attracting may be important in promoting exports and spurring higher levels of export led-growth and FDI-led growth. This study has implications for Eastern Caribbean countries and SIDS in other regions. Investimenti diretti esteri, export e crescita economica nei SIDS: evidenze da Santa Lucia Questo lavoro esamina la relazione causale tra investimenti diretti esteri, esportazioni e crescita economica nelle piccole isole in via di sviluppo utilizzando dati relativi all’isola di Santa Lucia nel periodo 1980-2015. I risultati dei bound test ARDL effettuati per valutare la cointegrazione indicano che le variabili hanno una relazione di lungo periodo quando il PIL e gli investimenti diretti esteri sono considerati variabili dipendenti. I risultati del test Toda-Yamamoto per valutare le relazioni causali di lungo periodo indicano che c’e una causalita bi-direzionale tra il PIL e gli investimenti diretti esteri, una causalita uni-direzionale tra le esportazioni e il PIL e tra gli investimenti diretti esteri e le esportazioni. Di conseguenza vi sono evidenze di una crescita export-led e FDI-led a Santa Lucia. Conformemente a cio a Santa Lucia dovrebbero continuare ad adottarsi politiche finalizzate ad attrarre investimenti diretti esteri e ad aumentare le esportazioni per promuovere la crescita economica. Inoltre, sarebbe opportuno diversificare gli investimenti diretti esteri che Santa Lucia effettivamente potrebbe attrarre al fine di promuovere le esportazioni e i livelli di crescita export-led e FDI-led. I suggerimenti scaturiti da questo studio valgono sia per i paesi est-caraibici che per altre economie di piccole isole.
The Gravity-Based Approach for Online Recalibration of Wheel Force Sensors

A novel approach for online recalibration of wheel force transducer/sensor (WFT) is proposed in this paper. It combines the initial angle alignment and shape-from-motion calibration by taking advantage of the wheel rotation characteristics. The gravitational load of the vehicle is only served as loading constraint in the calibration. Both of the two calibration procedures can iteratively update each other to reach the desired accuracy and efficiency without requiring the redundant data collection that performs inconvenient repeated loading cycles. A two-axis wheel force sensor is modeled and calibrated with the gravity-based method (GM), the initial-value-based method, as well as the independent shape-from-motion method (ISM) for comparison purposes. The tested results demonstrate that the proposed GM provides an accurate, practical, and effective technique for online calibration of the WFTs.
REVITALIZING EDUCATION THROUGH: INTEGRATING TELEGRAM AS CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK IN LANGUAGE TEACHING

Recently the use of technology and its integration into the curriculum has gained a great importance. One of this technological devices is mobile phones which is usually banned at school due to the distractions and problems caused by different built-in and installed applications, However, the use of these installed applications such as Telegram on these handheld device especially smart phones in second language teaching is going to assist in effective language teaching and allow students to actively participate in teaching and learning. Keeping all these in mind, the purpose of this presentation is to provide the required information for second language teachers so that they can make use of Telegram efficiently in language classroom.
The calcium channel subunit α2δ-3 organizes synapses via a novel activity-dependent, autocrine BMP signaling pathway

Synapses are highly specialized for neurotransmitter signaling, yet activity-dependent growth factor release also plays critical roles at synapses. While efficient neurotransmitter signaling is known to rely on precise apposition of release sites and neurotransmitter receptors, molecular mechanisms enabling high-fidelity growth factor signaling within the synaptic microenvironment remain obscure. Here we show that the auxiliary calcium channel subunit α2δ-3 promotes the function of a novel activity-dependent autocrine BMP signaling pathway at the Drosophila NMJ. α2δ proteins have conserved synaptogenic activity, although how they execute this function has remained elusive. We find that α2δ-3 provides an extracellular scaffold for autocrine BMP signaling, suggesting a new mechanistic framework for understanding α2δ’s conserved role in synapse organization. We further establish a transcriptional requirement for activity-dependent, autocrine BMP signaling in determining synapse density, structure, and function. We propose that activity-dependent, autocrine signals provide neurons with continuous feedback on their activity state and are thus well poised to modulate synapse structure and function.