Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Improved Neural Network for Regional Giant Panda Habitat Suitability Mapping: A Case Study in Ya’an Prefecture

Expert knowledge is a combination of prior information and subjective opinions based on long-experience; as such it is often not sufficiently objective to produce convincing results in animal habitat suitability index mapping. In this study, an animal habitat assessment method based on a learning neural network is proposed to reduce the level of subjectivity in animal habitat assessments. Based on two hypotheses, this method substitutes habitat suitability index with apparent density and has advantages over conventional ones such as those based on analytical hierarchy process or multivariate regression approaches. Besides, this method is integrated with a learning neural network and is suitable for building non-linear transferring functions to fit complex relationships between multiple factors influencing habitat suitability. Once the neural network is properly trained, new earth observation data can be integrated for rapid habitat suitability monitoring which could save time and resources needed for traditional data collecting approaches through extensive field surveys. Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) natural habitat in Ya’an prefecture and corresponding landsat images, DEM and ground observations are tested for validity of using the methodology reported. Results show that the method scores well in key efficiency and performance indicators and could be extended for habitat assessments, particularly of other large, rare and widely distributed animal species.
Management of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, occurring in 1-2% of overall population, involving more than 6 millions of European people. It is associated to a reduced quality of life and an increased morbidity and mortality. The Framingham study showed the link between angina and AF. The same risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity promote both AF and coronary artery disease (CAD). About 1/4 of AF patients develop a CAD and, in this setting, about 1/5 undergoes a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In patients with both AF and CAD, the optimal medical strategy is challenging and it is still debated in cardiological community, since patients treated by dual (two antiplatelets drugs ore one antiplatelets drug and an oral anticoagulant drug) or triple therapy (two antiplatelets drugs and an oral anticoagulant drug) are exposed to divergent risk of bleeding or thromboembolic and ischemic complications. Aim of this paper is to focus the attention on the different problems arising from the presence of AF in patients undergoing PCI, such as the risk of stroke, bleeding and stent thrombosis.
Necessity of Observing Patient’s Rights: A Survey on the Attitudes of Patients, Nurses and Physicians

Studying the situation of observance of patients’ rights and interaction of those individuals who provide and/or receive health services are regarded as the most significant and salient parameters of qualitative evaluation of health services. The main aim of this study is to compare the attitudes of patients as recipients of healthcare services with those of physicians and nurses as representatives of healthcare providers regarding the necessity of observance of various aspects of patients’ rights in three hospitals selected as representing the three models of providing medical service (teaching, private and public). This was a cross-sectional descriptive analytical study and the data were gathered using a questionnaire. Researchers helped the patients to fill in the questionnaire through interviewing and the physicians and nurses filled in their own questionnaires. The field consisted of three hospitals (a teaching general hospital, a private hospital and a public general one) all located in Tehran. The questionnaires included a set of general questions regarding demographic information and 21 questions about the necessity of observance of patients’ rights. They were filled in by the interviewer for 143 patients and, after being sent to other groups, 143 nurses (response rate = 61.3%) and 82 physicians (response rate = 27.5%) filled them in. The criterion for necessity of each right was measured according to the Likert Scale [from 0 (not necessary) to 10 (absolutely necessary]. The data were analyzed using SPSS 11.5 software. Given the abnormal distribution of the data, non-parametrical tests were used. The results of this study showed that all of the study groups agreed with the necessity of almost all aspects of patients’ rights and the highest level of disagreement between groups was related to patients’ right of access to information and right of choosing provision provider and deciding on treatment plan. However, these disagreements were not significant altogether. According to the results, it seems that healthcare providers, especially physicians, should be better familiarized with patients’ right of access to information and right of choosing and deciding. Based on the disagreement between the attitudes of the patients and physicians in this study, it seems that the patients had a higher level of expectations concerning their rights compared to physicians.
Soil Nematode Communities in Grasslands Effects of Plant Species Identity and Diversity

Viketoft, M. Soil nematode communities in grasslands – effects of plant species identity and diversity. Doctor’s dissertation. ISSN: 1652-6880, ISBN: 978-91-576-7347-3 This thesis summarizes the results of five studies investigating the effect of plant species on soil nematode communities in grasslands. Nematodes (roundworms) are ubiquitous members of the soil fauna and have been much used as indicators of soil conditions. Plants have the ability to affect soil organisms through structural modification of the soil habitat and through the quantity and quality of organic matter that is returned to soil, in the form of plant litter and root exudates. The influence of grassland plant species on the soil nematode fauna was investigated in an experimental grassland, a glasshouse experiment and in a semi-natural grassland. Monocultures of 12 grassland plant species belonging to three plant functional groups, viz. grasses, legumes and non-leguminous forbs, were investigated in the field experiment and a subset of these in the other two systems. Plant species effects were common, for example, plant feeding and bacterial feeding nematodes responded positively to legumes and grasses, while forbs enhanced fungal feeding nematodes. Plant species identity appeared to be much more important than plant functional group for the nematode fauna. The effects of plants were quite consistent between field and glasshouse experiments. The influence of plant species diversity and functional diversity on the nematode fauna was investigated in the experimental grassland. Plant species composition proved to be more important for soil nematode communities than any of the plant diversity measures, but the hypothesis that species or functional diversity of plants affect nematode diversity or composition could not be rejected. My results also suggest that plant species identity may be an important determinant of spatial structure in natural grasslands. There was a succession of the nematode fauna during the eight years after establishment of the experimental grassland, especially indicated by the increase in maturity index of the nematode fauna. The results highlight the need for long-term experiments to reveal successional trends in soil nematode communities after cessation of agriculture. The increase of plant feeders with time, the slow colonization rate and the enhanced abundance of fungal feeders in soil under forbs have implications for nature restoration of former agricultural land.
Analysis of Worst-Case Delay Bounds for On-Chip Packet-Switching Networks

In network-on-chip (NoC), computing worst-case delay bounds for packet delivery is crucial for designing predictable systems but yet an intractable problem. This paper presents an analysis technique to derive per-flow communication delay bound. Based on a network contention model, this technique, which is topology independent, employs network calculus to first compute the equivalent service curve for an individual flow and then calculate its packet delay bound. To exemplify this method, this paper also presents the derivation of a closed-form formula to compute a flow's delay bound under all-to-one gather communication. Experimental results demonstrate that the theoretical bounds are correct and tight.
Visual Exploration for Parameter Studies of Industrial CT Dataset Series

This paper proposes comparison and visualization techniques to carry out parameter studies for the special application area of dimensional measurement using 3D X-ray computed tomography (ICT). A dataset series is generated by scanning a specimen multiple times by varying parameters of an industrial CT device. A high resolution series is explored using our multi-planar reformating (MPR) based exploration system. We present an evaluation system (multi-image view) and an edge explorer for comparison and visualization of grey values and edges of several datasets simultaneously. Visualization results and quantitative data are displayed side by side. For fast data retrieval and convenient usability we use bricking of the datasets, and efficient data structures. Graphics hardware is used for interactive visualization. We studied the applicability of our proposed visualization techniques in collaboration with our company partners.
Dropout Prediction in MOOCs using Learner Activity Features

espanolLos estudiantes se unen a un curso con la motivacion de persistir durante parte o la totalidad del curso, pero varios factores, como el desgaste o la falta de satisfaccion, pueden llevarlos a desconectarse o abandonar por completo. Las intervenciones educativas dirigidas a estos factores de riesgo puede ayudar a reducir las tasas de abandono. Sin embargo, el diseno de intervencion requiere la capacidad de predecir con precision los abandonos y con tiempo suficiente para permitir la administracion de la intervencion oportuna. En este trabajo, presentamos un predictor de abandono que utiliza caracteristicas de actividad estudiantil para predecir el cual los estudiantes tienen un alto riesgo de abandono. El predictor tiene exito en rojo de pabellon 40% - 50% de los abandonosmientras que estan todavia activos. Un 40% adicional - 45% son marcado dentro de los 14 dias de ausencia del curso. EnglishWhile MOOCs offer educational data on a new scale, many educators have been alarmed by their high dropout rates. Learners join a course with the motivation to persist for some or the entire course, but various factors, such as attrition or lack of satisfaction, can lead them to disengage or totally drop out. Educational interventions targeting such risk factors can help reduce dropout rates. However, intervention design requires the ability to predict dropouts accurately and early enough to allow for timely intervention delivery. In this paper, we present a dropout predictor that uses student activity features to predict which students have a high risk of dropout. The predictor succeeds in red-flagging 40% - 50% of dropouts while they are still active. An additional 40% - 45% are red-flagged within 14 days of absence from the course.
Managing dairy calves using continuous stocking and sward surface height - a review

The objectives of this review are (i) to examine the role of continuous stocking management in grazing experiments and on farm; (ii) to discuss the measurement of sward surface height; (iii) and to present experimental liveweight gain data obtained from calves continuously stocked from weaning to nine months of age. Sward height can be used as a guide in cultivar evaluations to maintain equal sward conditions between plots and treatments using put-and-take and continuous stocking management. Continuous stocking management can also be used on farm to achieve the recommended liveweight targets for dairy calves. However, further research is needed to determine the optimum sward height for calves. Weaned Friesian dairy heifers continuously stocked from November 2000 to April 2001 at Dexcel, Hamilton, and grazed to a mean sward height of 5 cm, steadily gained 0.8 kg/day, reaching a final mean of live weight of 226 kg at 9 months of age. The average stocking rate over this period was 7.1 calves/ha and the total liveweight gain was 822 kg/ha. These calves achieved the recommended liveweight targets set for replacement dairy heifers.
An Entropy Measure of Non-Stationary Processes

Shannon’s source entropy formula is not appropriate to measure the uncertainty of non-stationary processes. In this paper, we propose a new entropy measure for non-stationary processes, which is greater than or equal to Shannon’s source entropy. The maximum entropy of the non-stationary process has been considered, and it can be used as a design guideline in cryptography.
Nontransitive Decomposable Conjoint Measurement 1

Traditional models of conjoint measurement look for an additive representation of transitive preferences. They have been generalized in two directions. Nontransitive additive conjoint measurement models allow for nontransitive preferences while retaining the additivity feature of traditional models. Decomposable conjoint measurement models are transitive but replace additivity by a mere decomposability requirement. This paper presents generalizations of conjoint measurement models combining these two aspects. This allows us to propose a simple axiomatic treatment that shows the pure consequences of several cancellation conditions used in traditional models. These nontransitve decomposable conjoint measurement models encompass a large number of aggregation rules that have been introduced in the literature.
Authorship attribution in Arabic poetry

In this paper, we present the Arabic poetry as an authorship attribution task. Several features such as Characters, Sentence length; Word length, Rhyme, and First word in sentence are used as input data for Markov Chain methods. The data is filtered by removing the punctuation and alphanumeric marks that were present in the original text. The data set of experiment was divided into two groups: training dataset with known authors and test dataset with unknown authors. In the experiment, a set of thirty-three poets from different eras have been used. The Experiment shows interesting results with classification precision of 96.96%.
On the behaviour of the (1,λ)-es for a simple constrained problem

We study the behaviour of the (1,λ)-ES for a linear problem with a single linear constraint. The algorithm produces offspring until λ feasible candidate solutions have been generated and selects the best of those as the next generation's parent. Integral expressions that describe the strategy's one-generation behaviour are developed and used in a simple zeroth order model for the steady state of the strategy. Implications for the performance of cumulative step size adaptation are discussed and a comparison with the (1+1)-ES is drawn.
Plasma sex steroid hormone levels and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND A positive relationship has generally been observed between plasma estrogen levels and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, but most of these studies have been small and few have evaluated specific estrogen fractions (such as percent bioavailable estradiol). In addition, few studies have evaluated plasma androgen levels in relation to breast cancer risk, and their results have been inconsistent. We prospectively evaluated relationships between sex steroid hormone levels in plasma and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women by use of a case-control study nested within the Nurses' Health Study. METHODS Blood samples were collected during the period from 1989 through 1990. Among postmenopausal women not using hormone replacement therapy at blood collection (n = 11,169 women), 156 women were diagnosed with breast cancer after blood collection but before June 1, 1994. Two control subjects were selected per case subject and matched with respect to age, menopausal status, month and time of day of blood collection, and fasting status at the time of blood collection. RESULTS From comparisons of highest and lowest (reference) quartiles, we observed statistically significant positive associations with risk of breast cancer for circulating levels of estradiol (multivariate relative risk [RR] = 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06-3.46), estrone (multivariate RR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.05-3.65), estrone sulfate (multivariate RR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.23-4.12), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (multivariate RR = 2.15; 95% CI = 1.11-4.17). We found no substantial associations with percent free or percent bioavailable estradiol, androstenedione, testosterone, or dehydroepiandrosterone. The positive relationships were substantially stronger among women with no previous hormone replacement therapy. CONCLUSION Our data, in conjunction with past epidemiologic and animal studies, provide strong evidence for a causal relationship between postmenopausal estrogen levels and the risk of breast cancer.
Early evoked potentials.

This paper is concerned with "early" sensory evoked potential (EP) phenomena and their role in clinical psychiatric research. The dividing point in time between early and late EP events is arbitrary; it will depend upon the nature of the stimulus and thesensitivity of recording procedures. In general, EP events occurring within 50 msec after stimulus application are considered "early," although this boundary may reasonably be moved to 100 msec or more under different conditions. Later EP events have been studied more often than early ones in investigations of a psychological or psychiatric nature. This may be because the later EPs are far more sensitive to psychological maneuvers, such as manipulation of attention (Satterfield 1965). Nevertheless, the early EP events do offer some advantages for psychiatric research. Their underlying neurophysiology is better understood than that of the later potentials. Also, their relative insensitivity to psychological influence renders them less susceptible to change by uncontrolled factors; results are less likely to be either produced or obscured by stray thoughts.
Neonatal administration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor Lu 10-134-C increases forced swimming-induced immobility in adult rats: a putative animal model of depression?

Chronic administration of the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine to neonatal rats from postnatal days 8 to 21 is reported to induce several behavioral changes in adult life, and it may serve as an animal model of human depressive disorder. Findings include increased immobility time in the forced swim test and locomotor hyperactivity in the open field test. Clomipramine is a serotonergic reuptake inhibitor, which suggests that altered development of the serotonergic system could account for the observed behavioral changes in the adult rat. The present study was carried out with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to investigate whether the serotonin system, in particular, is involved in the neonatal animal model. The substance, Lu 10-134-C (LU), was characterized in monoamine reuptake and receptor binding assays and found to be an SSRI. Rats received LU during postnatal days 8 to 21 (2.5-15 mg/kg b. i.d.), and they were assessed in open field, forced swim and social interaction tests at the age of 4 months. Behavior of LU-treated rats and saline controls did not differ in the open field and social interaction tests. However, in the forced swim tests LU-treated neonates showed prolonged immobility time compared with saline controls. In conclusion, chronic LU treatment during neonatal life produces long-term changes in the forced swim test, but not in the open field and social interaction tests. The behavioral changes in the forced swim test suggest that the central serotonergic system may be involved in the putative neonatal animal model of depression.
Statistics and Error Performance of Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing over Nakagami-m Fading Channels

In this contribution we first derive the correlation coefficient of two subcarriers in multicarrier systems using cyclic-prefixing (CP) for inter-symbol interference (ISI) suppression and inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT)/fast Fourier transform (FFT) for multicarrier modulation/demodulation. It can be shown that two subcarriers spaced far away may experience highly correlated fading. Then, the probability density function (PDF) of fading amplitudes of subcarrier signals is derived, showing that the PDF either obeys Rayleigh distribution or appears in irregular distribution. Finally, a simple closed-form bit error rate (BER) expression is obtained for orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. This closed-form BER expression is very general, suitable for communications environments having different frequency selectivity and possibly different channel quality.
A Fast Global Group Search Optimizer algorithm

The Group Search Optimizer(GSO) is a novel optimization algorithm, which is inspired by searching behavior of animals. In this paper, we proposed an improved GSO algorithm named Fast Global Group Search Optimizer(FGGSO) to increase searching speed and balance the exploitation and exploration of the algorithm, which is based on our previous works. At first time, considering the complexity and time-consuming design of the producer's angle searching strategy, a novel local search mechanism, named campaign strategy, is developed, which is inspired by competition and cooperation between candidates in an electoral process. After that, a reconstruction operation is applied in searching process to guarantee the avoidance of the local minimum. The algorithm is evaluated on a set of 11 numerical optimization problems and compared favorably with other version of GSOs. Experimental results indicate the remarkable improvement on the performance of these problems.
Measurement of the 3 D turbulent flow field of an annular jet and Proper Orthogonal Decomposition analysis

The annular jet is an example of complex shear flow situations. Two axisymmetric shear layers, originating at the jet exit, one at the nozzle lip and the other at the centre body, eventually meet downstream or interact with each other. The main aim of this study is to observe and analyze the 3D turbulent flow field on an annular jet with a great diameter ratio (r= 0.91). Measurements are conducted with a Reynolds number ReDo=107800. This work will permit us essentially to have a better knowledge of annular jets which present the effect of asymmetries in the experimental jet exit velocities and to meet manufacturers' needs. Key-Words: Laser Doppler Anemometry 3D, Particle Image Velocimetry, Proper Orthogonal Decomposition, annular jet.