Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelamiento y evaluación del nivel de calidad del aire mediante el análisis de Grey Clustering, estudio de caso Lima Metropolitana

Currently, the criteria to air quality assessment are analyzed independently, leaving aside the systemic approach of the environment, where air quality is influenced and controlled by many types of factors, where several parameters interact and mutually restrict each other for that reason a higher evaluation system is proposed by Grey Clustering analysis based on fuzzy logic, which takes into account the high degree of uncertainty present in the environment. The methodological proposal will assess the quality of air in Lima Metropolitana. In this work, we apply Center-point triangular whitenization weight functions (CTWF) method, where it will be demonstrated that the proposed model is exact, comparable and applicable. The monitoring data on each city of Lima Metropolitana were obtained from National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology of Peru – Senamhi. The CTWF method was applied using parameters of air quality such as PM10, PM2.5, SO2 y N02. Then, the results were ranked using the Year Average Common Air Quality Index (YACAQI). Consequently, the results showed that most of the cities are polluted. Finally, the results of this study could be used by local authorities or central government to make the best decision to focus on the main persistent pollutants in the environment.
Closing the Wearable Gap—Part VI: Human Gait Recognition Using Deep Learning Methodologies

A novel wearable solution using soft robotic sensors (SRS) has been investigated to model foot-ankle kinematics during gait cycles. The capacitance of SRS related to foot-ankle basic movements was quantified during the gait movements of 20 participants on a flat surface as well as a cross-sloped surface. In order to evaluate the power of SRS in modeling foot-ankle kinematics, three-dimensional (3D) motion capture data was also collected for analyzing gait movement. Three different approaches were employed to quantify the relationship between the SRS and the 3D motion capture system, including multivariable linear regression, an artificial neural network (ANN), and a time-series long short-term memory (LSTM) network. Models were compared based on the root mean squared error (RMSE) of the prediction of the joint angle of the foot in the sagittal and frontal plane, collected from the motion capture system. There was not a significant difference between the error rates of the three different models. The ANN resulted in an average RMSE of 3.63, being slightly more successful in comparison to the average RMSE values of 3.94 and 3.98 resulting from multivariable linear regression and LSTM, respectively. The low error rate of the models revealed the high performance of SRS in capturing foot-ankle kinematics during the human gait cycle.
Industry Heterogeneity in the Risk-Taking Channel

Abstract We contend that industry heterogeneity in risk and financing has important implications for the passthrough of monetary policy to corporate loan spreads. Existing literature on the risk-taking channel shows that lax monetary policy induces bank risk-taking, and this implies that industries’ risk profiles might induce asymmetries in monetary policy passthrough. Using U.S. syndicated loans over 1984-2018, we examine industry heterogeneity in the potency of the risk-taking channel and assess how this heterogeneity affects firms’ performance. We find that a one percentage point decrease in the shadow rate increases loan cost by approximately 30 basis points in the mining-construction and manufacturing sectors. The effect is lower in the services and transportation-utilities industries, while it is insignificant in the trade and finance sectors. The identified differences in the potency of the risk-taking channel explain a significant part of the inferior firm performance of highly affected sectors in the year after loan origination.
The development of infrastructure and the level of poverty in the eastern part of Indonesia

This research aimed to figure out the infrastructure effect on the poverty level in the Eastern Part of Indonesia. The developed research model applies an econometric approach i.e. simultaneous equation model using data panel of 16 provinces. The variables of the energy, housing, transportation, clean water, education, health, and telecommunication were used to measure the effects of the infrastructure whereas the growth and income inequality were used as the intervening variables. The result indicates that housing, clean water, and telecommunication have a negative and significant effect, while energy has a positive and significant effect on the poverty level. Indirectly, housing, clean water, education, and telecommunication variables have a negative and significant effect on the poverty level. In addition, energy and transportation have positive and significant effects on the poverty level. Another finding is improving economic growth in the Eastern Part of Indonesia causing more equal income distribution. However, it is not accompanied by poverty reduction.
Economic Benefits of Remediating the Buffalo River, New York Area of Concern

Abstract This study estimates the economic benefits of remediation in the Buffalo River, NY Area of Concern (AOC) using two distinct empirical methods. One method analyzes the effects of proximity to the AOC on prices in the residential property market. The second uses a choice survey of recent home purchasers concerning the characteristics of homes and the river. After controlling for numerous structural, community, and spatial effects, the market analysis shows that single-family residential property prices south of the river are depressed due to their proximity to the AOC by $118 million (5.4% of total market value). The impacts are greater for properties closer to the AOC. Prices to the north of the AOC do not appear to be affected. Recovery of $118 million in property value losses could produce approximately $4.7 million/year in new property tax revenues. Considering only the area for which the market study shows price discounts, the survey-based estimates reveal a willingness to pay (WTP) for full cleanup of the AOC of approximately $250 million (14% of median-based market value). The reasons for discrepancies between the results of the two methods is a matter for further research.
A twelfth official language? The constitutional future of South African Sign Language

Abstract The 2017 recommendation by the Constitutional Review Committee of the South African Parliament that South African Sign Language (SASL) be added to the Constitution as the country’s 12th official language has been forwarded to parliament for action, but, as of the writing of this article, it has yet to be approved. Should parliament accept the committee’s recommendation, there are a number of important issues that will need to be considered and resolved. As background for such consideration, in this article a very brief overview of the nature of sign languages in general (and of SASL in particular) will be provided. We will then turn to an examination of language policies that address sign languages in different national contexts, and will consider the case to be made for recognising SASL as South Africa’s twelfth official language. We will also explore what such recognition would entail, since making SASL an official language is in some ways similar to the status of the other eleven official languages of South Africa, but in other ways would be unique.
A Global Comparison of Corporate Value Adjustments to News of Cyber Attacks

The growing threat of cyber breach has become one of the most feared risks corporations around the world are currently dealing with. This paper uses a methodology similar to Hogan, Olson, and Angelina (2020) to analyze global shareholder value effects of cyber breaches from 1990 to 2019 for five major non-US countries. Cumulative Average Returns (CARs) are calculated using the first notice date to periods of up to 90 days post-announcement to compare short-term and long-term effects of cyber breaches on the stock price. Results for this data set show significant negative returns for US corporations in all windows. Unlike its US counterparts, short-term results for non-US countries show no significant changes to price as a result of cyber breach announcements. Long-term results for the aggregate non-US sample show significance only at the (0,30) window. Individual country long-term analysis shows some significance depending on the event windows, but no common patterns are seen among countries. These results point to differences in how news of a cyber breach, by country, is perceived in the market. The results help explain some of the patterns insurance companies have seen in the reticent buying habits of global companies with respect to cyber insurance.
Influence of Previous Washing Process and Storage Time on Chemical Composition and Sensory Quality of Thai Pangas (Pangasius sutchi) Minced Muscle During Frozen Storage

ABSTRACT This work focuses on the effect of a washing process followed by frozen storage (3 months; −18°C) on the quality of minced pangas muscle. A previous washing step has led to a positive effect on fish quality according to marked decreases in expressible moisture (28%), volatile amines (25.7%), free fatty acids (24.5%), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (29%). However, such indexes showed quality loss throughout the frozen storage. Amongst quality indexes, special attention should be given to the expressible moisture value and the water holding capacity, as being closely related to the gel-forming ability in order to obtain surimi-type commercial products.
Mapping the Human Erythrocyte -Spectrin Dimer Initiation Site Using Recombinant Peptides and Correlation of Its Phasing with the -Actinin Dimer Site (*)

Human erythroid spectrin dimer assembly is initiated by the association of a specific region near the N-terminal of β-spectrin with a complementary region near the C-terminal of α-spectrin (Speicher, D. W., Weglarz, L., and DeSilva, T. M.(1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 14775-14782). Both spectrin subunits consist primarily of tandem, 106-residue long, homologous, triple-helical motifs. In this study, the minimal region of β-spectrin required for association with α-spectrin was determined using recombinant peptides. The start site (phasing) for construction of dimerization competent β-spectrin peptides was particularly critical. The beginning of the first homologous motif for both β-spectrin and the related dimerization site of α-actinin is approximately 8 residues earlier than most spectrin motifs. A four-motif β-spectrin peptide (β1-4) with this earlier starting point bound to full-length α-spectrin with a K of about 10 nM, while deletion of these first 8 residues reduced binding nearly 10-fold. N- and C-terminal truncations of one or more motifs from β1-4 showed that the first motif was essential for dimerization since its deletion abolished binding, but β1 alone could not associate with α-monomers. The first two motifs (β1-2) represented the minimum lateral dimer assembly site with a K of about 230 nM for interaction with full-length α-spectrin or an α-spectrin nucleation site recombinant peptide, α18-21. Each additional motif increased the dimerization affinity by approximately 5-fold. In addition to this strong inter-subunit dimer association, interactions between the helices of a single triple-helical motif are frequently strong enough to maintain a noncovalent complex after internal protease cleavage similar to the interactions thought to be involved in tetramer formation. Analysis of hydrodynamic radii of recombinant peptides containing differing numbers of motifs showed that a single motif had a Stokes radius of 2.35 nm, while each additional motif added only 0.85 nm to the Stokes radius. This is the first direct demonstration that spectrin's flexibility arises from regions between each triple helical motif rather than from within the segment itself and suggests that current models of inter-motif connections may need to be revised.
Modeling and Uncertainty Analysis of Groundwater Level Using Six Evolutionary Optimization Algorithms Hybridized with Anfis, SVM, and Ann

In the present study, six meta-heuristic schemes are hybridized with artificial neural network (ANN), adaptive neuro-fuzzy interface system (ANFIS), and support vector machine (SVM), to predict monthly groundwater level (GWL), evaluate uncertainty analysis of predictions and spatial variation analysis. The six schemes, including grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), cat swarm optimization (CSO), weed algorithm (WA), genetic algorithm (GA), krill algorithm (KA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO), were used to hybridize for improving the performance of ANN, SVM, and ANFIS models. Groundwater level (GWL) data of Ardebil plain (Iran) for a period of 144 months were selected to evaluate the hybrid models. The pre-processing technique of principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to reduce input combinations from monthly time series up to 12-month prediction intervals. The results showed that the ANFIS-GOA was superior to the other hybrid models for predicting GWL in the first piezometer (RMSE:1.21, MAE:0.878, NSE:0.93, PBIAS:0.15, R2:0.93), second piezometer (RMSE:1.22, MAE:0.881, NSE:0.92, PBIAS:0.17, R2:0.94), and third piezometer (RMSE:1.23, MAE:0.911, NSE:0.91, PBIAS:0.19, R2:0.94) in the testing stage. The performance of hybrid models with optimization algorithms was far better than that of classical ANN, ANFIS, and SVM models without hybridization. The percent of improvements in the ANFIS-GOA versus standalone ANFIS in piezometer 10 were 14.4%, 3%, 17.8%, and 181% for RMSE, MAE, NSE, and PBIAS in training stage and 40.7%, 55%, 25%, and 132% in testing stage, respectively. The improvements for piezometer 6 in train step were 15%, 4%, 13%, and 208% and in test step were 33%, 44.6%, 16.3%, and 173%, respectively, that clearly confirm the superiority of developed hybridization schemes in GWL modelling. Uncertainty analysis showed that ANFIS-GOA and SVM had, respectively, the best and worst performances among other models. In general, GOA enhanced the accuracy of the ANFIS, ANN, and SVM models.
Reply to the comment by Romero and Kannada on “Genetic analysis of 16th-century whale bones prompts a revision of the impact of Basque whaling on right and bowhead whales in the western North Atlantic”

The comment by Romero and Kannada is presented as a critique of our previous work and suggests that our conclusions are in direct conflict with the historic whaling information reviewed in their paper. However, the critique is based on a misinterpretation of the geographical, temporal, and taxonomic focus of our previous work. The source of the putative conflict appears to stem from the misinterpretation that our results, focused solely on the impact of Basque whaling in the 16th and 17th centuries on the western North Atlantic right whale, were intended to be representative of all whaling of both right and bowhead whales throughout the North Atlantic. To demonstrate this, we briefly review our original results and conclusions and show that the information reviewed by Romero and Kannada does not challenge any aspect of our original work. As such, their comment is not a critique of our paper, but rather a brief review of the history of whaling in the North Atlantic.
SHEAR BOND STRENGTH FOR IMMEDIATE AND DELAYED REPAIR OF COMPOSITE WITH MICROHYBRID AND NANOHYBRID RESINS USING DIFFERENT BONDING AGENTS

Introduction: Repair is indicated mainly in the event of localized short­comings that are clinically unsatisfactory and no longer acceptable; it implies in any case the addition of a restorative material. Objectives:Shear bond strength for immediate and delayed repair of composite with microhybrid and nanohybrid resins using different bonding agents. Materials and methods: One hundred sixty nanohybrid composite discs were prepared. They were divided into 16 groups (10 each) according to 3 factors: Factor 1: Repair time, Factor 2: Repair protocol and Factor 3: Repair composite material. For immediate repair (I), discs (n=80) were divided into 4 subgroups 20 discs each. Each subgroup was divided into 2 groups as follows Group 1 (a): no conditioning with nanohybrid composite, Group 1 (b): no conditioning with microhybrid composite, Group 2 (a) Adhese Universal bond with nanohybrid composite, Group 2 (b) Adhese Universal bond with microhybrid composite, Group 3 (a) All-Bond Universal with Nano-hybrid composite ,Group 3 (b) All-Bond Universal with microhybrid composite, Group 4 (a) Scotchbond™ Universal with nanohybrid composite, and Group 4 (b) Scotchbond™ Universal with microhybrid composite. After 3 months of storage for delayed repair (II), the repair procedures were performed similar to the immediately repaired groups. After 1000 thermal cycles, all specimens were subjected to shear bond strength test. Results:repair time and surface treatment revealed statistically significant effect on the shear bond strength values of all groups (p ≤ 0.05). Highest shear bond strength value was recorded in group I4b (21.97 ± 1.19) MPa and the lowest value was recorded in group II1a (4.42 ± 0.88 MPa) Conclusions: Time of repair, bonding agent and repair material affected repair bond strength of composite.
Teste de respiração em sementes de soja para avaliação da qualidade fisiológica

Com a constante evolucao tecnologica, a industria sementeira exige cada vez mais rapidez na identificacao da qualidade fisiologica das sementes. Nesse sentido, o trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a eficiencia e rapidez do metodo de Pettenkofer na determinacao da atividade respiratoria para diferenciar o vigor de cinco lotes de sementes de soja cv. 'Taura'. Alem da determinacao da atividade respiratoria, foram realizados testes de germinacao em areia, condutividade eletrica, comprimento de parte aerea e raiz, massa seca da parte aerea, das raizes e massa seca total. Os resultados dos testes de qualidade fisiologica e da atividade respiratoria das sementes permitiram a classificacao dos lotes em diferentes niveis de qualidade fisiologica, sendo que a determinacao da atividade respiratoria, pelo metodo de Pettenkofer, e eficiente, rapida e util como alternativa na diferenciacao do vigor de lotes de sementes de soja.
Comparison of Electrofishing and Rotenone for Sampling Largemouth Bass in Vegetated Areas of Two Florida Lakes

Abstract We compared the sampling precision and efficiency of electrofishing and rotenone for assessing populations of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in vegetated portions of two Florida lakes. Sampling was conducted at Lochloosa and Orange lakes in north-central Florida from 1990 to 1999. Significant differences in length frequencies were determined between the two methods in 5 of 9 years for each lake. In years where differences existed, electrofishing collected larger fish than did rotenone. The maximum deviation between cumulative relative length frequencies for the two methods was not related to total vegetation, native emergent vegetation, or hydrilla Hydrilla verticallata coverage at either lake. Sampling precision was greater for electrofishing than for rotenone; electrofishing also required less sampling effort to detect changes in the abundance of juvenile and adult largemouth bass. Electrofishing was a more precise and cost-effective method than rotenone for estimating largemouth bass ab.
Abundance, distribution and reproduction of the Data-Deficient species (Squalus blainville) around Sardinia Island (central western Mediterranean Sea) as a contribution to its conservation

Data-Deficient (DD) species are currently under threat because of the paucity of information regarding their abundance, distribution and biological traits. In this study we analysed temporal trends and bioecological features of the DD shark, Squalus blainville. Biological and fishery data were collected through two different scientific surveys spanning 1994–2018 and commercial hauls around Sardinia Island (central western Mediterranean) from 2008 to 2018. The analysis of temporal trends based on abundance data revealed a significant population decline over time. The late attainment of maturity and low fecundity of S. blainville are suspected to have contributed to making it highly vulnerable to overfishing. No bathymetric segregation by sex and size was found. However, the almost exclusive presence of pregnant females south-west of Sardinia could be due to sexual spatial segregation. This is also supported by histological findings showing long-term sperm storage to ensure the persistence of the species when females and males are separated. The documented decline of this species, its low reproductive potential and similarities in the depth distribution of immature and mature individuals indicate the need for urgent protection plans for S. blainville in Sardinian waters.
Conservation in the community: the Kilum-Ijim Forest Project, Cameroon

Thomas, D.H. L. , Anders, S. & Penn, N.J. 2000. Conservation in the community: the Kilum-Ijim Forest Project, Cameroon. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 157–161. BirdLife International has worked for ten years in Cameroon's North-West Province to assist the local people and government of Cameroon in achieving the conservation and sutainable management of the last significant remnant of a unique montane forest ecosystem. The Kilum/Ijim forests are almost certainly the last remaining habitat for the conservation of two endemic and threatened bird species, Bannerman's Turaco Tauraco bannermani and Banded Wattle-eye Platytiera laticincta. The forests have no legal designation as formal protected areas but have been conserved through local concern and knowledge of the multiple values of an intact forest ecosystem, backed up by the enforcement of traditional regulations, and support from the project to finding solutions to peoples' land use and natural resource management needs within and outside the forests. The project is now working under the umbrella of a national Biodiversity Conservation and Management Programme in Cameroon, funded by the Global Environment Facility, to establish the Kilum/Ijirn as the first community-managed forest in the country. A brief history and background to the project is presented, with emphasis on lessons learned by BiraLife and the success of current efforts to achieve the conservation of the forests through community management. The issues are discussed in the general context of an integrated conservation and development programme (ICDP).
Evenness of abundance in bird communities

The evenness of abundance is a summary statistic describing the relative abundances of the species that comprise a community. Evenness of abundance is high when the different species have similar abundances. Evenness of abundance in bird communities tends to vary with habitat type, with number of species, with average size of species, and to a lesser extent with variation in size of species. Communities in more complex habitats have more even abundance distributions, as do those with more species, with smaller species and with a greater variation in body mass. When evenness of abundance within communities is calculated separately for different taxonomic groups of birds, some taxa typically have more even abundance distributions than others