Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resource survey of Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, 1983

Forward: Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary (LKNMS) was designated in 1981 to protect and promote the study, teaching, and wise use of the resources of Looe Key Sanctuary (Plate A). In order to wisely manage this valuable resource, a quantitative resource inventory was funded by the Sanctuary Programs Division (SPD), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in cooperation with the Southeast Fisheries Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA; the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), University of Miami; the Fisher Island Laboratory, United States Geological Survey; and the St. Petersburg Laboratory, State of Florida Department of Natural Resources. This report is the result of this cooperative effort. The objective of this study was to quantitatively inventory selected resources of LKNMS in order to allow future monitoring of changes in the Sanctuary as a result of human or natural processes. This study, referred to as Phase I, gives a brief summary of past and present uses of the Sanctuary (Chapter 2); and describes general habitat types (Chapter 3), geology and sediment distribution (Chapter 4), coral abundance and distribution (Chapter 5), the growth history of the coral Montastraea annularis (Chapter 6), reef fish abundance and distribution (Chapter 7), and status of selected resources (Chapter 8). An interpretation of the results of the survey are provided for management consideration (Chapter 9). The results are expected to provide fundamental information for applied management, natural history interpretation, and scientific research. Numerous photographs and illustrations were used to supplement the report to make the material presented easier to comprehend (Plate B). We anticipate the information provided will be used by managers, naturalists, and the general public in addition to scientists. Unless otherwise indicated, all photographs were taken at Looe Key Reef by Dr. James A. Bohnsack. The top photograph in Plate 7.8 was taken by Michael C. Schmale. Illustrations were done by Jack Javech, NMFS. Field work was initiated in May 1983 and completed for the most part by October 1983 thanks to the cooperation of numerous people and organizations. In addition to the participating agencies and organizations we thank the Newfound Harbor Marine Institute and the Division of Parks and Recreation, State of Florida Department of Natural Resources for their logistical support. Special thanks goes to Billy Causey, the Sanctuary Manager, for his help, information, and comments. We thank in alphabetical order: Scott Bannerot, Margie Bastian, Bill Becker, Barbara Bohnsack, Grant Beardsley, John Halas, Raymond Hixon, Irene Hooper, Eric Lindblad, and Mike Schmale. We dedicate this effort to the memory of Ray Hixon who participated in the study and who loved Looe Key. (PDF contains 43 pages)
In-Situ Geotechnical Characterization of Mixed-Grain-Size Bedforms Using A Dynamic Penetrometer

Abstract We tested the ability of a small dynamic penetrometer, Nimrod, to infer geotechnical properties of sediment mixtures in the inner shelf. The penetrometer is light and easy to operate, and its operation by scuba divers ensures a greater degree of precision than ship-based penetrometer deployments. We have studied selected positions along a sorted bedform (~ 100 m wide) on the continental shelf off the Coromandel Peninsula close to Tairua, North Island of New Zealand, and additionally took sediment samples at the exact positions of penetrometer impact, also by scuba divers. The derived dynamic penetrometer signatures (i) measured deceleration of the probe and estimated quasi-static bearing capacity as a measure of sediment strength, (ii) reflected changes in grain-size distribution ranging from very fine to very coarse sands, and (iii) revealed the uppermost seafloor stratification (top layer 2–6 cm) potentially being an indicator for sediment dynamics. In this manner, the device proved to be suitable for spatially fine-scaled surveys using divers’ support and might deliver complementary information about sediment dynamics, in this case sorted-bedform maintenance.
Lead and Cadmium Levels in Liver, Kidney and Muscle of Harvested Wild Springbok (Antidorcus marsupialis) Under Extensive Management in Southern and Southeastern Namibia

The aims of the study were to assess heavy metals (lead and cadmium) values in meat and offal from harvested springbok. For cadmium (Cd), mean concentrations in liver and kidney were 0.10 ± 0.04 mg/kg, 0.33 ± 0.05 mg/kg and 1.04 ± 0.15 mg/kg, 0.91 ± 0.12 mg/kg for lead (Pb). None of the samples had a Cd level above the limits set for the liver (0.5 mg/kg) and 1.0 mg/kg set for the kidney while two of the samples had a Pb level above the limits for the liver (0.5 mg/kg) and 12 samples had Pb values above the limits for the kidney (0.5 mg/kg). The mean Pb and Cd concentrations in muscles were below the detection limit. In the current study, interpretation of the results was limited by the small number of positive samples; however, values were within the range previously reported in literature for wildlife species elsewhere. Key words: cadmium, kidney, lead, liver, muscle, springbok.
45. MIOCENE STABLE ISOTOPE STRATIGRAPHY, SITE 747, KERGUELEN PLATEAU1

We correlated Miocene δ18θ increases at Ocean Drilling Program Site 747 with δ18θ increases previously identified at North Atlantic Deep Sea Drilling Project Sites 563 and 608. The δ18θ increases have been directly tied to the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS) at Site 563 and 608, and thus our correlations at Site 747 provide a second-order correlation to the GPTS. Comparison of the oxygen isotope record at Site 747 with records at Sites 563 and 608 indicates that three as-yet-undescribed global Miocene δ18θ increases may be recognized and used to define stable isotope zones. The δ18θ maxima associated with the bases of Zones Mila, Milb, and Mi7 have magnetochronologic age estimates of 21.8, 18.3, and 8.5 Ma, respectively. The correlation of a δ18θ maximum at 70 mbsf at Site 747 to the base of Miocene isotope Zone Mi3 (13.6 Ma) provides a revised interpretation of four middle Miocene normal polarity intervals observed between 77 and 63 mbsf at Hole 747A. Oxygen isotope stratigraphy indicates that the reversed polarity interval at 70 mbsf, initially interpreted as Chronozone C5AAr, should be C5ABr. Instead of a concatenated Chronozone C5AD-C5AC with distinct Chronozones C5AB, C5AA, and C5A (as in the preliminary interpretation), δ18θ stratigraphy suggests that these normal polarity intervals are Chronozones C5AD, C5AC, and C5AB, whereas Chronozones C5AA-C5A are concatenated. This interpretation is supported by the δ13C correlations. The upper Miocene magnetostratigraphic record at Hole 747A is ambiguous. Two upper Miocene δ 18 θ events at Site 747 can be correlated to the oxygen isotope records at Site 563 and 608 using the magnetostratigraphy derived at Hole 747B. Our chronostratigraphic revisions highlight the importance of stable isotope stratigraphy in attaining an integrated stratigraphic framework for the Miocene.
Representation of space–time variability of soil moisture

A simplified spatial-temporal soil moisture model driven by stochastic spatial rainfall forcing is proposed. The model is mathematically tractable, and allows the spatial and temporal structure of soil moisture fields, induced by the spatial-temporal variability of rainfall and the spatial variability of vegetation, to be explored analytically. The influence of the main model parameters, reflecting the spatial scale of rain cells, the soil storage capacity, the rainfall interception and the soil water loss rate (representing evaporation and deep infiltration) is investigated. The variabilities of the spatially averaged soil moisture process, and that averaged in both space and time, are derived. The present analysis focuses on spatially uniform vegetation conditions; a follow-up paper will incorporate stochastically heterogeneous vegetation.
Water management and agricultural intensification of rice farming at the late-Neolithic site of Maoshan, Lower Yangtze River, China

Intensifying water management for rice farming and related land use involves increasing labour investment in transforming local landscapes. By applying geoarchaeological investigation at the well-preserved late-Neolithic rice paddy site of Maoshan, Lower Yangtze River, during the excavation, this study provides detailed information of the changing relationship between water management, agricultural intensification, environmental change and social evolution during the critical time period of the late Holocene. It illustrates that the intensification of rice farming was facilitated by successful water management and landscape management in most time, and it was the combined effect of gradually increasing aridity, fluctuating sea-level patterns and increasing labour investment in water management that led to the eventual abandonment of the paddy field at the end of the Neolithic in this region. This study therefore draws attention from large-scale sites to small-scale, but economically important, sites in enhancing our understanding of the dynamic relationship between human societies and environmental changes during the late Holocene in this region.
International R&D Cooperation between Low-tech SMEs: The Role of Cultural and Geographical Proximity

Although there is a considerable amount of empirical evidence on inter-firm collaborations within technology-based industries, there are only a few works focussing on R&D cooperation by low-tech firms, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Providing further and new evidence based on a recently built database of CRAFT projects, this study analyses the relationship between technology and proximity in international R&D networks using HOMALS and statistical cluster techniques. The resulting typology of international cooperative R&D projects highlights that successful international cooperative R&D projects are both culturally/geographically closer and distant. Moreover, and quite interestingly, geographically distant projects are technologically more advanced whereas those located near each other are essentially low-tech. Such evidence is likely to reflect the tacit-codified knowledge debate boosted recently by the information and communication technology (ICT) “revolution” emphasized by the prophets of the “Death of Distance” and the “End of Geography”.
Targeted Visibility Analysis in Buildings Correlating Targeted Visibility Analysis with Distribution of People and Their Interactions within an Intensive Care Unit

This is a study of the spatial properties of environments that habitual users of a setting tune their behavior towards. The particular properties under consideration are those that affect visual fields. Previous studies in exhibition and office settings suggest that routine space use is affected by the structure of visual fields. In this study we test the proposition that the impact of spatial organization becomes clearer when we draw a distinction between generic visibility patterns and targeted visibility patterns. In studying generic visibility patterns we are considering all parts of a setting that are visible from each occupiable location. In studying targeted visibility patterns we focus on a previously specified set of visual targets and ask how many become visible from each occupiable location. A script was developed in order to compute targeted visibility measures using Depthmap, which normally computes generic visibility values. The Neurological Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a large hospital in Atlanta was chosen as a test setting. Behavioral data were collected by a group of 5 observers over a period of 2 weeks in the 20-bed unit. Each observer recorded the location and activity of all people he/ she saw on the observation sheets while walking through the setting according to a pre-defined path. A total of 46 observation rounds were completed. 946 counts of people were observed in the setting including 320 doctors and 626 nurses. The targeted visibility measure, which represents number of pre-selected foci that are visible (i.e. patient beds in this case), is more strongly correlated with the density of all staff members compared with standard generic visibility. It is also more strongly correlated with the density of nurses and the density of interacting nurses. Generic visibility is more strongly correlated with both interacting and not-interacting doctors. The finding is all the more consistent because the above mentioned pattern remains unaffected in an additional analysis where all staff members engaging work surfaces were excluded.
Corporate governance and corporate social responsibility disclosures: The case of GCC countries

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of corporate governance (CG) on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures. This is done in the context of firms operating in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and is largely based on the legitimacy theory, although other theories such as principal–agent theory and stakeholder theory are disucssed. Design/methodology/approach This study used the annual reports of 147 firms in the GCC countries, drawing on a legitimacy theory framework to determine the impact of CG characteristics, such as management ownership, ownership concentration, independence of board members, duality of CEO and chairman positions and the existence of an audit committee, on firms’ CSR disclosures to various stakeholders. Accordingly, the authors developed five hypotheses to examine the above variables and used a data set from Hawkamah – the Institute of Corporate Governance. This study covers a period of six years (2007-2012). The data set had been regressed in a multi-variate regression analysis. Findings The authors reported that greater managerial ownership and concentration of ownership have positive impact on CSR disclosures. The findings of this study also show that internal CG mechanisms, such as the independence of board members, the separation of powers, between the CEO and chairman positions and the existence of an independent audit committee, also have a positive influence on CSR disclosures. In addition, the leverage ratio, return on assets, company’s size and age emerge as important determinants of CSR disclosures; nevertheless, the company’s size and age are statistically not significant. These significant findings corroborate the recent concern with CG in developing countries that brings greater attention to CSR disclousures, as both internal and external CG mechanisms are effective in influencing the CSR practices. Practical implications This study fills the gap in literature by providing empirical evidence on the impact of CG on CSR disclosures in a significant region in the emerging economies. Furthermore, it alerts regulators, policy-makers, practitioners and firms’ executives in the GCC region and other developing countries to pay more attention to CG reforms and enforcement as well as to increase institutional pressures regarding CSR adaptation. Originality/value The study on how CG and CSR disclosures are connected has been limited. This study addresses this research gap and focuses on a region that has often been overlooked by accounting research.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Self-regulation strategies in blended learning environments in higher education A systematic review

Although self-regulation is an important feature related to students’ study success as reflected in higher grades and less academic course delay, little is known about the role of self-regulation in blended learning environments in higher education. For this review, we analysed 21 studies in which self-regulation strategies were taught in the context of blended learning. Based on an analysis of literature, we identified four types of strategies: cognitive, metacognitive, motivational and management. Results show that most studies focused on metacognitive strategies, followed by cognitive strategies, whereas little to no attention is paid to motivation and management strategies. To facilitate self-regulation strategies non-human student tool interactional methods were most commonly used, followed by a mix of human student-teacher and non-human student content and student environment methods. Results further show that the extent to which students actively apply self-regulation strategies also depends heavily on teacher's actions within the blended learning environment. Measurement of self-regulation strategies is mainly done with questionnaires such as the Motivation and Self-regulation of Learning Questionnaire.
Evaluation of shrub encroachment and brush control on water availability in the Upper Guadalupe River watershed

Evaluation of Shrub Encroachment and Brush Control on Water Availability in the Upper Guadalupe River Watershed. (May 2004) Jason David Afinowicz, B.S., Texas A&M University Co-Chairs of Advisory Committee: Dr. Clyde Munster Dr. Bradford Wilcox Wooded plant encroachment has dramatically changed the composition of rangelands in the arid and semiarid rangelands of the southwestern United States and may have significantly affected hydrologic and biogeochemical process in these environments. In particular, suspicions that encroaching species waste an undue amount of water through evapotranspiration (ET) has prompted much discussion concerning the possibility of using brush control to enhance water supplies in Texas. This study focuses on two broad goals for evaluating the effects of wooded growth in rangelands. The first of these is the assessment of wooded cover with the use of remotely sensed imagery. A methodology for delineating differing land cover classes, including different levels of brush cover, is described, applied, and validated for the Upper Guadalupe River watershed, Texas. This portion of the research resulted in an 81.81% success rate for correctly matching land cover varieties and showed that 88.8% of the watershed was covered with various amounts of woody plant growth. The second portion of this study incorporated the previously developed land cover product along with a number of other highly detailed data sources to model the
Escalating Commitment: Business Investments and CSR

There are many instances, in all areas of business, in which individuals can become committed to a course of action that begins costing more than it is producing. Because it is often possible for persons who have suffered a setback to recoup their losses through an even greater commitment of resources to the same course of action, a cycle of escalating commitment can be produced (Staw, 1981). This thesis serves to address prior literature and prior studies based on the theory of escalation behavior . We furthered our research by conducting an experiment using university students to test certain said theory with the incorporation of specific variables (i.e. tax-avoidance strategies vs. sustainable investing). As such, this thesis was designed with the purpose of trying to understand why such behavior exists and what factors may have significant influence on the cycle known as escalating commitment.
Seasonal Variation of Physico-Chemical characteristics of Wetlands in the West Garo Hill, Meghalaya, India

Eleven physico – chemical parameters of wetlands in West Garo Hill, Meghalaya were recorded in different seasons for two years to assess the quality status of water. The parameters were water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen(DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solid (TSS), total dissolved solid (TDS), total hardness, nitrate(NO 3 ) and phosphate (PO 4 ). The wetlands of west Garo Hill were found to be highly fluctuates with season. The wetlands did not showed significant difference between the two years. The water showed slightly alkalinity. DO was found normal as prescribed by WHO. COD and TSS were found beyond the permissible limit. The BOD was slightly higher than permissible limit indicates that though the water of wetlands are not polluted at present but it is going to be polluted. Pesticides, chemical fertilizers did not showed affect on water quality.
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository

This research project explores the ability of a Recurrent Neural Network to detect Odontocete calls. With the current degree of climate change impacting the planet, being able to better track and locate highly mobile endangered species is imperative. An example of such a species is the Sperm Whale, which is listed as endangered under the United States Endangered Species Act, that migrate annually and have a range that extends through all the world’s oceans. Current methods of detection require a great deal of manual interaction and skill on behalf of the identifier. Automating this process would enable easier tracking and aid conservation and study efforts. The system of concern is the use of a Bilateral Long Short-Term Memory Recurrent Neural Network (B-LSTM) to detect odontocete calls in a data set provided by the 2018 Work-shop on Detection, Classification, Localization and Density Estimation of Marine Mammals using Passive Acoustics. This data set included 92,050 Odontocete calls that were utilized in this experiment. This data set was randomly partitioned into a training set and a test set for two neural networks, one using B-LSTM and the other using a basic Feedforward Neural Network (FNN).
The Sensitivity of CLAMP to Taphonomic Loss of Foliar Physiognomic Characters

Abstract CLAMP (Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program) is a powerful paleoclimate proxy with the ability to yield quantitative data on past temperatures, precipitation, growing season length, and humidity, as well as enthalpy (a property of a parcel of air that is useful in studies of paleoaltimetry). Commonly quoted uncertainties in CLAMP predictions relate to the statistical uncertainty inherent in the combined quality of the modern calibration data sets and the relationship of foliar architecture to the various climate parameters. This minimum uncertainty assumes that the fossil assemblage represents faithfully the foliar physiognomy of the source vegetation. Taphonomic processes degrade this physiognomic fidelity. Differential selection for size, shape, and species composition during transport and post-depositional processes biases the physiognomic profile of the fossil assemblage. The sensitivity of CLAMP precision to taphonomic filtering was assessed empirically using a modern data set from the Crimean Peninsula as a proxy fossil site. Elimination of leaf margin, apex, base, size, and shape character-state categories, singly and in combination, changed the predictive capability of CLAMP. Loss of margin characters had the greatest effect, particularly on temperature-related variables (mean annual, warm-month mean and cold-month mean temperatures, length of the growing season, and enthalpy). Taphonomic selection against large leaf sizes had little effect even on moisture-related estimates (precipitation during the growing season, mean monthly growing season precipitation, precipitation during the three wettest and driest months, relative humidity). Loss of taphonomically sensitive characters (apex, base, or shape) also had little effect on CLAMP predictions.