Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SAR RADARSAT-2 and optical Pléiades stereo imagery for monitoring the melt of Baffin Island ice caps (Nunavut, Canada)

Given the recent pronounced warming in the Canadian arctic and associated glacier melt, the development of new innovative monitoring tools has become essential to better understand their response to climate change. Here we exploit two recent satellite technologies, namely the radarsat2 (R2) stereo radargrammetry (SRG) and the Pléiades stereo imagery, for monitoring historical and recent melt of Barnes ice cap, penny ice cap, Grinnell ice cap and Terra Nivea ice cap. Digital elevation models (DEMs) derived from R2 SRG show a vertical precision of better than ~7 m (standard deviation) on ice-free terrain without using any ground control point and with the advantage of being weather independent. Combined with different other datasets, we obtain a glacier-wide mass balance of -0.49 ± 0.21 m a -1 w.e. (water equivalent) for Barnes ice cap between 1960 and 2013, while it strongly decreases to -1.07 ± 0.90 m a −1 w.e. for the period 2005-2013, in agreement with other studies. Over Penny ice cap, we rather obtain a mean annual elevation change of -0.60 m a-1 between 1960 and 2012, also in agreement with other studies. Over Grinnell ice cap, Pléiades derived DEMS combined with other datasets allow to estimate a historical mass loss rate of -0.37 ± 0.21 m a-1 w.e between 1952 and 2014. The rate of mass loss on Terra Nivea ice cap was slightly stronger at -0.47 ± 0.16 m a-1 w.e between 1958/59 and 2014, with a strong recent acceleration between 2007 and 2014: -1.68 ± 0.36 m a-1 w.e.
Effects of Social Competence Promotion on Aggressive Behavior: A Meta-Analytic Review

This meta-analysis of 13 samples examined outcomes of social competence promotion (SCP) with aggressive children (total N = 1,179). Aggression levels post-treatment were summarized with the standardized mean gain statistic . The results indicate that SCP produced small/moderate (Hedge's g = 0.28) decreases in children's aggression . Teachers (g = 0.32), however, perceived higher decreases in children ' s aggression post-treatment than parents (g = 0.12). Standard multiple regressions revealed that 55% of variance in aggression levels are explained by the percentage of Whites in the sample as well as by the length of treatment (BetaR 2 = 0.551). Age was not related to aggression levels, however . The percentage of Whites in samples made the strongest unique contribution to explaining aggression levels (Beta= -0.603,p < .05) . The length children received training was not found to significantly contribute to the prediction of aggression levels . In conclusion, while both parents and teachers noted decreases in aggression post-treatment, teachers reported fewer aggression behaviors than did parents post-treatment. Also, as the percentage of White participants in the sample increased, the levels of aggression decreased after SCP training. Acknowledgements I thank Dr. Margaret Rogers, chair of my thesis committee , for her guidance and instruction throughout this research . It took her insight and patient mentoring to bring this thesis to fruition . Her expertise, encouragement, flexibility, and support from the conception to the completion of this project were notable. I also thank my committee member , Dr . Joseph Rossi, for his help with statistical analyses of data . I feel fortunate that he shared his years of experience and wisdom to provide valuable feedback on several ambiguous decisions along the way . I am greatly indebted to him for the considerable time he devoted over the summer to data analysis . Without his assistance during the summer, I could not have completed this project in the desired timeline . In addition, I thank my committee member Dr . Diane Horm for her professional interest in my research . I am grateful for her valuable time and energy. Her flexible availability for meetings and input regarding children and youth developmental levels is greatly appreciated . I also appreciate the assistance, camaraderie , and insights of my tutor, Dr . Kara Hall. I am grateful for the supportive and generously collaborative relationship I had with her . I consider it a privilege to have worked with her .
Federated Kernelized Multi-Task Learning

Federated learning poses new statistical and systems challenges in the training of machine learning models over distributed networks of devices. In this ongoing work, we develop a state of the art MTL federated system that bypasses the modelling limitations of previous efforts through the inclusion of non-linear mappings in its formulation. We address the new issues that arise due to this inclusion and that are associated with the particulars of the federated scenario, such as communication and storage costs, introducing this way the first fully practical kernelized federated framework
Passive acoustic recording of Ophidion rochei calling activity in Calvi Bay (France)

Passive acoustic recording (PAR) systems are non‐invasive and allow researchers to collect data over large spatial and/or temporal scales. As fish sounds are species‐specific and repetitive, PAR can provide a large amount of data about spatio‐temporal variation in fish distribution and behaviors. Ophidion rochei, found in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, is a sand‐dwelling species, meaning that the behavior of this cryptic nocturnal fish cannot be observed in the field. Fortunately, male O. rochei produce long, multiple‐pulsed calls that are easy to identify. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not male calls are linked to reproduction behaviors. If so, PAR would allow a detailed description of the seasonal and daily rhythms in O. rochei reproduction behavior. A hydrophone was deployed from 18 July 2011 to 21 June 2012 and from 7 June 2013 to 2 July 2013 on a sandy area (42°34′48′′ N, 8°43′43′′ E) in front of the STARESO research station (NW Corsica). Male sounds were obtained only at night from late spring to early fall. The annual sound production period corresponds to the reproductive season of O. rochei. Sound production followed diel cycles: it was sustained for the entire night at the beginning of the sound production season but limited to shorter periods in the evening during the second half of the season. These differences in daily and seasonal sound production tempo can be used in future recordings to make inter‐annual comparisons and estimate the physiological state of the fish.
A Methodology for Placement-Aware Partitioning

: - Circuit partition is the first stage of physical design. As the improvement of semiconductor technique, the number of transistors increases rapidly in a VLSI design. Therefore, how to partition a circuit effectively in order to reduce the design complexity becomes a crucial problem. In this paper, we propose a placement-aware partition methodology to reduce the total wire length after cell placement and global routing. A 2-way partitioning algorithm developed previously has been proved to be effective for the 3D IC partition problem. By the application of 2-way partitioning algorithm and a set of terminal propagation rules proposed in this paper, we can take into account the external interconnections of the target partition region effectively, and calculate the gain of partition precisely, such that the wire length could be minimized. A set of benchmarks from the 2011 ISPD contest are used to test our methodology. Experimental results show that in comparison with previous work, our methodology reduces the total wire length after placement in terms of both HPWL and STWL, and also reduces the real length of routing wires after global routing effectively.
Efficacies of fenbendazole and levamisole in the treatment of commercial turkeys for Ascaridia dissimilis infections

SUMMARY A field trial was conducted on a farm in Michigan with commercial turkeys naturally infected with ascaridia dissimilis. The birds were treated at approximately 8 and 14 wk of age on a per-barn basis with fenbendazole (Safeguard) in the feed at 16 ppm for 6 d (1 barn), or with levamisole (Prohibit) in the water at 16 mg/kg of BW (2 barns). Six birds were obtained at random and sacrificed in each barn for worm burden determinations before treatments and again soon after treatments. Nematicidal efficacies for fenbendazole and levamisole were shown to be 99.3 to 99.9% and 54.6 to 85.8%, respectively. Despite the far greater reductions in worm burdens by fenbendazole as compared with levamisole, the burdens at the time of retreatment had equalized in all barns, illustrating the role of premunition regarding turkey ascaridiasis, and highlighting the overriding importance of reducing the challenge to provide long-term control of this parasitism.
On the Radio Capacity of a Spread Spectrum Cognitive Radio System

: - In this paper, the problem of estimating the optimum radio capacity of a spread spectrum non-cellular Cognitive Radio (CR) system, operating in a Rayleigh fading environment, is examined. In contrast to previously published works, here, the radio capacity is expressed in terms of the number of simultaneously transmitting secondary users, considering only one primary user, which receives the spread spectrum simultaneously transmitted signals, through an optimum maximal-ratio combiner (MRC) RAKE receiver. Specifically, the problem to finding the number of secondary simultaneously transmitting users , which maximizes the normalized average channel capacity (expressed in bits/sec/Hz) available to primary user, is considered. Then, the theoretical analysis, avoiding the application of a complex and lengthy simulation process, leads to a simple but novel closed-form expression for the system’s optimum radio capacity, which is related with the system’s parameters and can be useful for the practical design of a CR system and for an initial quantitative analysis. Finally, numerical results and respective graphs are presented to illustrate the presented analysis.
Morphological Characteristic of Placenta in Sudanese Subjects

The placenta is the most important and the only organ between mother and fetus, serving multiple functions endocrinal, respiratory, metabolic and main useful functions. Normal development of a placenta is the one of the important requirements for a healthy pregnancy, regulating fetal growth and fetal health. The objectives of this study were to compare the placental weight with the infant’s weight, to measure the placental diameter and to count the numbers of cotyledons in each placenta. The study was carried out among 240 infant, 102 females and 138 males, delivered at Omdurman new (Alsaudi) and Alshaikh Mohammed Ali Fadol hospitals of obstetrics gynecology. All infants were looked healthy and their weight ranged from 1.85 to 4.18 kg with mean of 3.02. The weight of placenta ranged between 0.35 to 0.77 kg with mean of 0.535 kg. Placental weight in males ranged between 0.35 to 0.75 kg with mean of 0.537 kg. While the female placental weight ranged between 0.4 to 0.77 kg with mean of 0.531 kg. The placental diameter ranged between 15 to 23 cm with mean 18.64 cm. The diameter in males ranged between 16 to 23 cm with mean 18.52 cm. In female was ranged from 15 to 23 cm with mean of 18.81 cm. The mean of cotyledons number was 19 with std. Deviation 1.362 and ranged from 16 to 22. The mean of number in males was 19.17 and ranged from 16 to 22 and in females the mean was 18.88 and ranged from 16 to 22. According to Pearson, Kendall's Tau-b and Spearman's rho correlations and found that there is a significant relationship between infant weight and placental weight.
Transformation of the Paradigm of the Economic Entities Development in Digital Economy

Global digitization forces modern enterprises to respond to the rapid changes in the external environment and adapt to it. As a result, existing business models are being transformed in the areas of production, promotion, communication, calculations, interaction with partners and consumers. In this context, there is growing scientific interest in exploring theoretical and practical aspects of the economy digitization and its impact on the peculiarities of the economic entities functioning. Features of functioning of classical and digital economic entities on the basis of criterion approach have been investigated, using the following criteria: factors of production, form of business organization, location of workplace, production outcome, economic processes, connection with on-demand economy, methods of payment, relations with other enterprises, professions enhancing the image of the enterprise, communication method between employees, saving and processing of information, company promotion tools and consumer communication. The main statistical indicators of the digitalization impact on the activity of enterprises in the world and in Ukraine in 2018 have been analyzed. The feasibility of using digital economy tools has been outlined. Advantages and disadvantages of the impact of digital transformation space on the enterprise have been identified.
Cholestasis in Rat 2

Estradiol17@J-D-glucuronide (E217G), an endogenous cholestatic me tabolite of estradlol, has been Identified as a substrate for both hepatic P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the multispecific organic anion transporter (MOAT),the liver-specific homologue ofthe multidrugresistanceprotein. The aim of the present studies was to determinethe role of hepatic P.gp and MOAT in E217G-mediatedcholestasis and its bifiary excretion using the isolated perfused rat liver. A bolus dose of E217G (2 ,.amol)alone decreased the bile flow maximally from 1.5 to 0.3 gd/min/g liver. In the presence of an Infusion of 1.5 g. &M daunorubicin or 1.0 g&M Taxol, P-gp substrates, E217G cholestasis was blocked such that 2 prnol E217G de creased the bile flow from 1.48 to 1.31or from 1.70to 1.31 @. d/mIn/g liver, respectively. In the presence of 1 and 3 gLMTaxol, the log dose-response curves for E217G cholestasls were shifted to the right 2-fold and 5-fold, respectively, in a parallel manner. Taxol (10 and 50 pi@t) inhibited the ATP-dependenttransport of 10 ,LME217Gin canalicular plasma mem brane vesicles by 46 and 81%, respectively. Daunorubicin (1.5 @&M) also shifted the log dose-response curve for E@17G cholestasis to the right about 4-fold. Neither Taxol nor daunorubicin decreased the billary excre lion of E217G.Infusionof cydosporine (6 @sM), an Inhibitorof both P-gp and MOAT, significantly blocked both E217G cholestasis and biliary excretion, such that 16 @tmol E217Gdecreased the bile flow only 15â€"20%. In contrast, bromosulfophthaleln,a MOAT substrate, had no effect on either E217G-mediatedcholestasis or its biliary excretion. These data indicate that P-gp plays an essential role in E@17G-med1ated cholestasis and suggest that MOAT functions to deliver high concentrations of E217G to P-gp.
Insect-related differences in growth of birch and pine at northern treeline in Swedish Lapland

The tree-ring patterns of birch and pine in the Tornetrask area of Swedish Lapland were compared. In order to dendrochronologically identify years of major insect attacks on birch, pine being unaffected by these outbreaks, served as control. The sharp growth increase in birch following the historically confirmed, heavy outbreak in 1954–55 is discussed and evidence pointing to possible earlier outbreaks is presented.
Etude des caractéristiques botaniques, agronomiques et de la biologie florale du melon africain (Cucumis melo L. var. agrestis Naudin, Cucurbitaceae)

Le melon africain, Cucumis melo var. agrestis, est une espece cultivee dont les graines a l’etat seche sont utilisees pour faire la sauce pistache, un mets tres prise en Cote d’Ivoire. L’espece reste cependant peu etudiee contrairement aux especes de melon cultivees dans les pays temperes. Les caracteristiques agromorphologiques de C. melo var. agrestis ont ete etudiees a partir de huit caracteres : le taux de germination, le temps d’emergence, la date de floraison, la duree du cycle, le poids des baies matures, le nombre moyen de graines par baie, le poids de 100 graines et la forme des graines. La biologie florale et le systeme de reproduction ont ete etudies a l’aide de 19 parametres. Les resultats de ces etudes ont montre que C. melo var. agrestis a un cycle de developpement de 110 a 150 jours selon les saisons. Le nombre moyen de baies par plante est variable (5 a 15) et la production en graines par baie est faible (6,83 %). Le melon africain est une espece andromonoique avec un decalage phenologique entre l’apparition des fleurs mâles et hermaphrodites. Le pollen de la fleur hermaphrodite est viable et les stigmates sont receptifs avant l’ouverture de la fleur. Les implications de la biologie florale sur le systeme de reproduction sont discutees dans une perspective d’amelioration genetique du rendement et d’etude du flux genique entre individus au sein de la culture.
Rural Migration in Kyrgyzstan: Drivers, Impact and Governance

The development of Kyrgyzstan reveals two important trends: declining agricultural production and a steady increase of remittances from labor migration. These trends suggest a transformative effect of migration, negating an overly simplistic investment effect of financial remittances on long standing livelihood activities. Although many studies agree that labor migration contributes to poverty reduction in rural Kyrgyzstan, only little attention has been paid so far to the question: What effect does migration have on rural development? This research paper is based on a desk study that focused on investigation of the state of knowledge about migration, rural change and migration policy in modern Kyrgyzstan, and suggests recommendations of prominent areas for future studies. Acknowledgements The deep and inspiring discussions with Dr. Roman Mogilevski and Dr. Lira Sagynbekova helped me consider migration, rural change and development nexus from a new angle. I am also thankful to Dr. Fraser Sugden for structural guidance and Dr. Roy Sidle for review and valuable comments that helped improve this paper. This research paper was completed within the framework of the project “Leaving something behind” – Migration governance and agricultural and rural change in “home” communities by the University of Central Asia’s Mountain Societies Research Institute (UCA MSRI). The project is funded by the European Union, Horizon2020 program (No. 822730). AGRUMIG Project website: http://agrumig.iwmi. org UCA MSRI publications can be found in website: https://ucentralasia.org/Research/MSRI_Publications/EN Research paper # 7, 2020
Impact of Fly Ash Amended Soil on Growth, Quality and Productivity of Eclipta alba (L.)

A simple randomized pot experiment was conducted with an aim to investigate the impact of graded (v/v) quantity (F0, F15, F25, F35, F45, F55) of fly ash, emanated from the Thermal Power Plant, Kasimpur, India. Low to moderate concentrations of fly ash favoured the plant growth. The parameters considered like plant length, fresh and dry weights, leaf area, photosynthetic pigments, protein content and productivity of Eclipta alba were found to increase. Highest and significant enhancement was observed, when the plants were grown in the soil amended with 35% fly ash. Addition of fly ash, higher than 35% proved detrimental to the plant and drastically affected the above mentioned parameters, when compared with the plants grown in unamended soil.
Dietary and Thermo-Hygrometric Requirements to Rear Mussidia fiorii Cecconi & de Joannis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Under Laboratory Conditions

Several Mussidia species occur in West and East Africa, but only the ear-borer, Mussidia nigrivenella Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), has attained economic pest status in West Africa. During recent surveys in Kenya several parasitoid species were recovered from Mussidia species, including the egg parasitoid, Trichogrammatoidea sp. nr lutea Girault (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatoidea). This parasitoid species is considered a potential biocontrol agent for M. nigrivenella in West Africa and development of a successful rearing system for its host, M. fiorri, will enable the mass production of this natural enemy species. The suitability of five artificial diets for the development of M. fiorii as well as optimum rearing conditions were evaluated in the laboratory. The effect of temperature and humidity on the development of M. fiorii was also studied. Mussidia fiorii successfully developed on maize leaf-, maize seed- and Canavalia ensiformes seed-based diets. The lower developmental thresholds for the egg, larvae, pupae, and egg to adult were 12.8 ± 0.25 °C, 14.4 ± 0.27 °C, 11.0 ± 0.03 °C and 13.5 ± 0.21 °C, respectively, while the thermal constants were 82.0 ± 1.61, 384.6 ± 9.4,144.9 ± 6.8 and 588.2 ± 10.8 degree-days, respectively. Information on dietary and thermal requirements will be used to optimize mass production of the host and natural enemies.
Dear Enemy: The Dynamics of Conflict and Cooperation in Open Innovation Ecosystems

Open innovation ecosystems rely on cooperation among participating firms, but conflict also arises between participants. Yet, there is limited understanding regarding how interorganizational conflict influences ecosystem dynamics. We discuss a theoretical framework that explains how disagreements that reflect unanticipated changes in the value of contested technologies alter public, club, and private benefits for ecosystem participants and, thereby, shape their incentives to cooperate. We argue that firms are likely to increase cooperation after conflict arises when they are more technologically interdependent and have fewer outside options but otherwise are apt to reduce cooperation. Further, we propose that ecosystem participants can shape the degree of openness and the boundaries of the ecosystem to manage the implications of disagreements. Our arguments align with observations of the dear enemy recognition of cooperation among territorial biological species, which we argue also operates in organizational ecosystems.
Dispersal of the Central European Population of the Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

Summary. Using the Hungarian spoonbill colour-ringing scheme database, which spans 12 years of 11 cohorts (2003–2013), we clarify dispersal patterns of spoonbills in the Carpathian Basin, a part of the Pannonian biogeographical region. We found that during the course of one year, approximately 25% of adult spoonbills disperse and are seen 100 km beyond their natal area. However, this rate is roughly 20% if we analyse only the core of the breeding season (May and June). The extent of dispersal in the Hungarian population is greater than that in the Atlantic population, where the proportion of birds showing natal site fidelity is higher. This finding could be explained by increased unpredictability in the Carpathian Basin in the temporal and spatial distribution of food resources and in the water- supply of wetlands, as well as in conditions at breeding locations there. These factors may also explain the high dispersal rate of adults in continental wetland habitats compared to coastal ones. Furthermore, the minimum distance to natal colony decreased with increasing age of age groups when age group was included as a categorical variable, indicating that immature birds in the pannonian spoonbill population tend to disperse further than adults. This also implies a higher degree of fidelity to natal areas among adult individuals. Our data show that post-fledging dispersal of juveniles starts from late May and is non-directional, and at least 12% of all ringed individuals were seen 100 km from their natal colonies before their autumn migration. The occurrence of a large number of long-distance dispersers of all age groups in the Carpathian Basin suggests the need for ongoing wetland restoration at landscape scales.