Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Landscape and Urban Planning

Opponents of the Scenic Review Ordinance for controlling the visual effects of development in the Lake Tahoe Basin argue that the regulations do not meaningfully reflect general public attitudes. In part to address this concern, Tahoe’s federally mandated regional authority commissioned a study to assess public perception of the scenic resource. The 392 survey respondents were comprised of tourists, members of local environmental groups, and lakefront property owners. Survey results, based on responses to both photographs and written questions, show substantial agreement across different stakeholder groups including those most vocally opposed to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). Although the magnitude of preferences differed somewhat, all groups preferred development that included more nature (particularly trees), was not “run down”, was less visually bulky, and contrasted less with the environment (e.g., darker colors and without large expanses of windows). These findings lend credibility to TRPA’s Scenic Ordinance criteria, which encourage developers and homeowners to break up visible structural mass of their construction and reduce the perceived contrast of structures with their surroundings. Study implications are discussed in terms of the future of TRPA efforts and in terms of the effectiveness of studies such as these in bridging the gap between planning and successful policy implementation. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Landscape and Urban Planning

Data on visitor use are essential to the planning and management of National Park units in order to assess visitor impacts to the resource, estimate the quality of the visitor experience, and to inform facilities planning. Recently, automated infrared monitors have become a popular tool to estimate visitor-use levels at attraction sites and along trails in national parks and related protected natural areas. However, there are counting errors associated with all automated counters, thus procedures are required to convert raw counter data to accurate estimates of recreational use. The purpose of this study was to assess the performance (i.e., degree of error) of automated trail traffic counters and document procedures to correct counting errors associated with their use to measure visitor use. This study was conducted in Yosemite National Park in the summer of 2007 and used automated visitor counters to estimate visitor use at attraction sites and trailheads in Yosemite Valley. A total of 135 h of direct observation counts were conducted in tandem with the use of automated counters at six study sites to estimate counting errors in the automated counter data. A series of statistical procedures was used to calibrate raw monitor data to accurate estimates of visitor use at each of the study sites. Results of the study suggest there is a strong statistical relationship between observation-based visitor counts and monitor counts (R2 > 0.95), which supports confidence in the use of monitors to estimate recreational use in national parks and protected
Simultaneous Ascending Auctions

The simultaneous ascending auction has proved to be a successful method of auctioning many related items. Simultaneous sale and ascending bids enable price discovery, which helps bidders build desirable packages of items. Although package bids are not allowed, the auction format does handle mild complementarities well. I examine the auction design and its performance in practice.
The Star-Formation Properties of Nearby AGN in the Observed and Simulated Universe: BAT vs EAGLE

In this thesis we present data from 272 low redshift, hard X-ray (14 - 195 keV) selected Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) taken from the Swift-BAT all sky survey. We calculated Star Formation Rates (SFRs) and Specific Star Formation Rates (sSFRs) via Spectral Energy Distribution fitting in the optical and infra red parts of the elctromagnetic spectrum. The host galaxy properties of a sub-sample (72 AGN) were compared to a flux and volume matched sample of AGN from the EAGLE hydrodynamical simulations in order to verify how accurately the simulations can reproduce the observational data, including some Monte-Carlo methods. We find Anderson-Darling test agreements in the SFR distributions of 20\% (45\% in the MC methods), however $ 10$^{45}$ erg s$^{-1}$) which can significantly quench star formation. We also investigate the cosmic evolution of average host galaxy properties of two differently selected populations of AGN in EAGLE. We find that galaxies selected on similar criteria from different epochs show similar behaviours but display different average host galaxy properties in the present day.
Balanced growth and public capital: an empirical analysis

The balanced growth restrictions implied by the neoclassical growth model imply that output, the private capital stock and the public capital stock share the same stochastic trend. We analyse the postwar US data on real output, real private capital stock and real public capital stock and find that the balanced growth restrictions cannot be rejected by the data. Removing the common stochastic trend from each series allows the estimation of output elasticities that is free from the spurious regression problem. The results support Aschauer's (1989) claim that, at the margin, public capital is more productive than private capital.
Performance Comparison between Two Interpretations of Missing Data using Matrix-Characterized Approximations

- Nowadays, the veracity related with data quality such as incomplete, inconsistent, vague or noisy data creates a major challenge to data mining and data analysis. Rough set theory presents a special tool for handling the incomplete and imprecise data in information systems. In this paper, rough set based matrix-represented approximations are presented to compute lower and upper approximations. The induced approximations are conducted as inputs for data analysis method, LERS (Learning from Examples based on Rough Set) used with LEM2 (Learning from Examples Module, Version2) rule induction algorithm. Analyzes are performed on missing datasets with “do not care” conditions and missing datasets with lost values. In addition, experiments on missing datasets with different missing percent by using different thresholds are also provided. The experimental results show that the system outperforms when missing data are characterized as “do not care” conditions than represented as lost values.
Brief : COVID-19 Vaccines and Vaccination

All COVID-19 vaccines currently approved or authorized in the United States (P zer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna, and Janssen [Johnson & Johnson]) are e ective against COVID-19, including against severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Available evidence suggests the currently approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccines are highly e ective against hospitalization and death for a variety of strains, including Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), and Delta (B.1.617.2); data suggest lower e ectiveness against con rmed infection and symptomatic disease caused by the Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants compared with the ancestral strain and Alpha variant. Ongoing monitoring of vaccine e ectiveness against variants is needed. Limited available data suggest lower vaccine e ectiveness against COVID-19 illness and hospitalization among immunocompromised people. In addition, numerous studies have shown reduced immunologic response to COVID-19 vaccination among people with various immunocompromising conditions. The risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection in fully vaccinated people cannot be completely eliminated as long as there is continued community transmission of the virus. Early data suggest infections in fully vaccinated persons are more commonly observed with the Delta variant than with other SARS-CoV-2 variants However data show fully vaccinated Data were added indicating that COVID-19 vaccination remains highly e ective against COVID-19 hospitalization and death caused by the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. Data were added from studies published since the last update that further characterize reduced COVID-19 vaccine e ectiveness against asymptomatic and mild symptomatic infections with the Delta variant of SARS-CoV2. Data were added from studies published since the last update that suggest decreased vaccine e ectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection, symptomatic disease, and hospitalization in several groups of immunocompromised persons and potential bene t of a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine in immunocompromised populations. Data were added summarizing several small studies of heterologous COVID-19 vaccination series (i.e., mixed schedules), which found that a dose of adenovirus vector vaccine followed by a dose of mRNA vaccine elicits antibody responses at least as high as two doses of mRNA vaccine. Data were added from recent studies examining the duration of protection conferred by COVID-19 vaccination. Data were added from recent studies describing clinical outcomes and transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 infections in fully vaccinated persons.
Volumetric change in a flood-tide delta: application of the 'Cut and Fill' process flow diagram for decision support in port management at Lakes Entrance, Victoria, Australia.

A cylinder head for an overhead camshaft engine comprises an end wall to which an idler is rotatably mounted, and two side walls which extend in generally parallel from the end wall. Upper and lower beams interconnect and extend between the two side walls. The side walls, and the upper and lower beams cooperate with each other to define a mounting site extending to surround a window opening. A cover is detachably mounted on the mounting site to conceal the window opening.
The persistence of unit trust performance for the period July 1985-June 1995

The purpose of this study was to determine whether any persistence of performance existed in the unit trust industry in South Africa over the ten-year period from July 1985 to June 1995. Calculations were done over different time periods (one-, two- and four-year periods) and using different definitions of superior performance (positive Jensen alphas or winner/loser phenomena). Results of nominal returns and risk-adjusted returns were also compared. Results obtained show that persistence in performance does exist, but that it is more of a 'loser' phenomenon than a 'winner' phenomenon.
A Control-Theoretic Analysis of Low-Priority Congestion Control Reprioritization under AQM

Recently, a negative interplay has been shown to arise when scheduling/AQM techniques and low-priority congestion control protocols are used together: namely, AQM resets the relative level of priority among congestion control protocols. This work explores this issue by carrying out a control theoretic analysis of the dynamical system to prove some fundamental properties that fully characterize the reprioritization phenomenon. In particular, (i) we provide the closed-form solution of the equilibrium in the open-loop (i
Performance evaluation of semi-dry flue gas desulfurization and denitration from flue gas of a glass melt using nonthermal plasma combined process

The semi-dry plasma and chemical hybrid process (PCHP) has been used for the simultaneous removal of NO x and SO x emitted from a glass melting furnace. In this study, PCHP was conducted through a laboratory-scale model experiment that simulated the aftertreatment system of a full-scale semi-dry glass bottle manufacturing system. The process consisted of two methods: the plasma process in which NO is oxidized using nonthermal plasma and the chemical process in which NO 2 produced from NO oxidation is removed using Na 2 SO 3 resulting from the reaction between SO 2 and NaOH. Herein, the position of ozone injection was transferred to the inside wall of the reactor to improve the efficiency of simultaneous denitrification and desulfurization through the efficient oxidation of NO. First, NO removal experiments were conducted by changing the spray position, spray liquid flow rate, and flow rate of a mixed simulated gas of NO and SO 2 . Therefore, over the gas flow rate range from 5 to 15 L/min, the localized cooling area where NO and O 3 could be efficiently reacted at the nozzle spray position of z = 400 mm was formed. A NO x removal efficiency of 74% with a ratio of decreased NO to injected O 3 ( Δ NO/O 3 ) of 88% and SO 2 removal efficiency of 100% were achieved by injecting O 3 from the inside wall of the reactor when the liquid-gas ratio was 1.17 L/m 3 .
Bat activity over wetlands: temporal and spatial variation

Foraging animals face decisions about when and where to forage based, in part, on prey availability, which can fluctuate temporally as well as spatially. For temperate insectivorous bats, wetlands are important forage habitats because they provide water and high abundances of insects. My overall objective was to identify abiotic and biotic factors that influence bat foraging activity over wetlands in the channeled scablands of eastern Washington. I surveyed 12 wetland sites at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR) in Cheney, Washington, 3 or 4 times during summer 2012. Ten stations were set up at each site to measure insect abundance using floating aquatic emergence traps and pan traps. Bat feeding activity was measured using ultrasonic recording devices. I measured vegetation abundance, water temperature and depth, presence/absence of fish, and wetland type at each site. I collected 3,127 aquatic insects from 5 different orders. I recorded calls from ten bat species, including two species that have not been previously detected at TNWR. Feeding buzzes were recorded at all 12 sites during at least one sampling period. There was spatial variation in water depth, cattail abundance, and calls from high-frequency bats. Water depth was deeper at one permanent wetland than at one permanent and one non-permanent wetland. Cattail abundance varied across sites. Calls from high-frequency bats were higher at one permanent wetland compared to one wetland that dried up during July. There was temporal variation in wetland characteristics, insect biomass, and bat activity. Water temperature, insect biomass, and bat activity (both total calls and total feeding buzzes)
Neural networks and genetic algorithms as forecasting tools : a case study on German regions

This paper develops and applies neural network (NN) models to forecast regional employment patterns in Germany. Computer-aided optimization tools that imitate natural biological evolution to find the solution that best fits the given case (namely, genetic algorithms, GAs) are also used to detect the best NN structure. GA techniques are compared with more `traditional' techniques which require the supervision of experienced analysts. We test the performance of these techniques on a panel of 439 districts in West and East Germany. Since the West and East datasets have different time spans, the models are estimated separately for West and East Germany. The results show that the West and East NN models perform with different degrees of precision, mainly because of the different time spans of the two datasets. Automatic techniques for the choice of the NN architecture do not seem to outperform selection procedures based on the supervision of expert analysts. doi:10.1068/b3101
Effects of rough surface on sound propagation in shallow water

Underwater acoustic applications depend critically on the prediction of sound propagation, which can be significantly affected by a rough surface, especially in shallow water. This paper aims to investigate how randomly fluctuating surface influences transmission loss (TL) in shallow water. The one-dimension wind-wave spectrum, Monterey–Miami parabolic equation (MMPE) model, Monte Carlo method, and parallel computing technology are combined to investigate the effects of different sea states on sound propagation. It is shown that TL distribution properties are related to the wind speed, frequency, range, and sound speed profile. In a homogenous waveguide, with wind speed increasing, the TLs are greater and more dispersive. For a negative thermocline waveguide, when the source is above the thermocline and the receiver is below that, the effects of the rough surface are the same and more significant. When the source and receiver are both below the thermocline, the TL distributions are nearly the same for different wind speeds. The mechanism of the different TL distribution properties in the thermocline environment is explained by using ray theory. In conclusion, the statistical characteristics of TL are affected by the relative roughness of the surface, the interaction strength of the sound field with the surface, and the changes of propagating angle due to refraction.
Initiation of the Himalayan orogen as an early Paleozoic thin-skinned thrust belt: GSA Today

Research by many workers in various regions of the Himalaya, combined with our recent geologic and geochronologic studies in Nepal, indicate that fundamental aspects of the Himalayan orogen originated in an early Paleozoic thrust belt and are unrelated to Tertiary IndiaAsia collision. Manifestations of early Paleozoic tectonism include ductile deformation, regional moderate- to highgrade metamorphism, large-scale southvergent thrusting, crustal thickening and the generation of granitic crustal melts, uplift and erosion of garnet-grade rocks, and accumulation of thick sequences of synorogenic strata. Determining the relative contributions of early Paleozoic versus Tertiary tectonism constitutes a significant challenge in understanding the Himalayan orogen.
The Geography of Bank Deposits and the Origins of Aggregate Fluctuations

What are the aggregate effects of deposit shocks? We introduce a new fact regarding the within-bank geographic concentration of deposits – 30% of deposits are concentrated in a single county. We construct deposit shocks by combining the within-bank deposit concentration with local natural disasters. We show that large shocks to deposit concentrated areas amplify through bank internal capital markets and generate aggregate fluctuations. Deposit shocks explain 3.30% of variation in economic growth. We identify the deposit elasticity of economic growth as 0.87 and the money multiplier as 1.18. Lender and borrower-side frictions are critical for the aggregation of local shocks. *This paper was previously circulated as “The Deposits Channel of Aggregate Fluctuations. ” We thank the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate’s Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Program in Real Estate, Finance and Urban Economics for generous funding. We thank Isha Agarwal, Saleem Bahaj, Allen Berger, Yasser Boualam, Dean Corbae, Douglas Diamond, Stuart Gabriel, Darryl Getter, Martin Götz, Rajkamal Iyer, Erica Jiang, Anil Kashyap, Beril Kilcioglu, Ralph Koijen, Elena Loutskina, Yueran Ma, Andrew MacKinlay, Tyler Muir, Karsten Müller, Evren Örs, Jonathan Parker, Noèmie PinardonTouati, Edward Prescott, Amiyatosh Purnanandam, Veronica Rappoport, Koen Schoors, Philip Strahan, and Anjan Thakor. We are also thankful to the seminar and conference participants at UC Berkeley, Simon Fraser University, Cornell University, ECB Conference on Money Markets, Financial Institutions and Fixed Income Conference, National University of Singapore, USC Macro-Finance Reading Group, IWH-FIN-FIRE Workshop on Challenges to Financial Stability, Bank of Finland Workshop on Banking and Institutions, Federal Reserve Board Summer Workshop in Money, Banking, Payments and Finance, Qatar Centre for Global Banking and Finance Conference, Columbia University/Bank Policy Institute Research Conference, HEC Paris – CEPR Conference on Banking, Finance, Macroeconomics and the Real Economy, Copenhagen Business School, SFS Cavalcade, RiskLab/BoF/ESRB Conference on Systemic Risk Analytics, Advances in Macro-Finance Tepper-LAEF Conference, OCC Symposium on Systemic Risk and Stress Testing in Banking, UCLA Finance Brownbag Seminar, Chicago Finance Brownbag Seminar, Transatlantic Doctoral Conference at London Business School, the 20th FDIC Bank Research Conference, the Inter-finance PhD Seminar, and the PhD Student Symposium on Financial Market Research and Policy Developments. We do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose. We take responsibility for all errors. †Shohini Kundu is at the Anderson School of Management, University of California Los Angeles. email: shohini.kundu@anderson.ucla. edu ‡Seongjin Park is at the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago. email: spark160@chicagobooth.edu §Nishant Vats is at the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago. email: nvats@chicagobooth.edu
Satellite altimetry on Greenland ice sheet mass balances

On this MSc thesis we use two radar altimetry mission data in order to study the evolution oof the Greenland ice sheet during the period 2013-2014. The Throughout Earth’s history the cryosphere, and more specifically its ice sheets, have responded to every major climate change event by expanding or retreating its extension pulled on the direction of the new climatic situation. Thus, for the currently ongoing climate change, the Antarctic and Greenland Ice Sheets hold a significant relevance as they are one of the most sensitive indicators of climatic changes. On this scenario, this thesis project studies the process of characterizing the mass changes on the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) making use of satellite radar altimetry data provided by the K band altimetry mission SARAL/Altika. The data have been obtained from the RADS radar altimetry data base of the TU Delft. One of the main focuses has been put into the characteristics of employing the radar altimetry techniques over ice sheets and the specific phenomena that need to be taken into account when computing range values. The slope-induced deviations have been estimated by calculating the along- and across-track surface slopes on the nadir direction and correcting for the deviation caused by these on the range estimates. The result has been satisfactory when compared with an independent DEM. On a second phase of the project, the elevation changes have been computed at the intersections between ascending and descending tracks, the crossover points. Three methods have been used to analyse these elevation changes: an overall GrIS estimate that uses all crossover points as equal; a regionalized averaging method for the crossover points; and a Laplacian differential molecule method for adding a dynamic dimension to the regionalized data and thus have a smoother and better covered GrIS data. The regionalized methods have yielded a distribution of elevation changes where the north- western and north-eastern coastal areas are where the main ice loss is measured, while the interior areas show no change or a slight increase on the southern interior area. By using the elevation change estimates, annual volume changes have been derived for each of the methods mentioned above. The resulting estimates are similar from one method to the other, giving an average of -272 ± 55 km /yr for the January 2013 - December 2014 period. When translated into annual mass balances using an effective ice density of 900 kg/m a total mass change of -245 ± 50 Gt/yr is obtained. This thesis has successfully calculated annual mass change estimates for the GrIS using SARAL/Altika measurements, results that come into agreement with the ones obtained in other independent studies. In addition, it has confirmed the validity of the applied methods for the correction of slope-induced deviations and the calculation of regionalized elevation changes. The availability of longer period data records and an improved re-tracking procedure could significantly improve the accuracy of the final results.