Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Population recovery of black rhinoceros in north‐west Namibia following poaching

Curtailing overharvest, whether illegal or legal, is often a critical conservation objective. Yet even if overexploitation can be stopped, subsequent rates of population recovery can be highly variable due to Allee effects, alterations to age and sex structure and disruptions of animal social systems. Moreover, understanding the influence of density dependence can be difficult but important for long‐term management. Here, we investigate the dynamics of black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis in the Kunene region of Namibia as they recover from illegal hunting. We use multi‐strata mark–recapture models to examine survival and stage‐transition rates from 1992 to 2005. Survivorship estimates ranged from 0.793 for calves to 0.910 for adult males and 0.944 for adult females. The annual reproductive rate in adult females was estimated at 0.315. Model selection showed that these vital rates were time invariant, suggesting that Allee effects and transient dynamics did not have an important effect upon population dynamics, even in the early stages of recovery. Relative population density increased significantly from 1992 to 2005 once illegal hunting had ceased in Kunene. However, the best‐fit models did not include relative density in the estimation of survival or stage‐transition rates. We then used the vital rates generated from our mark–recapture analysis to build matrix projection models that assessed overall population dynamics. The female‐only model gave a population growth rate estimate of λ=1.011. Two‐sex models suggest that the growth rate of the population could range from 0.990 to 1.012. The relatively slow growth rate of this population, even without hunting or density dependence, could stem from the low productivity of the region. Adult females had the highest reproductive value and their survival had the highest elasticity among vital rates. Translocating adult females would lead to the fastest initial population growth rate in founder populations but would have the most impact on the source population.
Biometric Incorporation in Pervasive and Autonomous Systems Emphasising the use within e-Health Specific Smart Homes

With an aging population and the increase in serious diseases smart homes and telehealth is becoming more and more prevalent. As these computer systems become increasingly widespread and complex, they become progressively harder to update, troubleshoot and configure without a large expert team of maintainers. One solution is to use autonomous systems to do the work much more quickly and efficiently. As autonomous systems become more sophisticated and understood, security concerns and authentication are coming to the fore as important areas in which more research is needed. With the constant search for the illusive ideal security identifier biometric systems have become more widespread and have entered the public eye. This paper will look at the connection between smart homes, biometrics devices and autonomous systems. into biometrics.
Cell density-dependent swimming patterns of Alexandrium fundyense early stationary phase cells

: Different life-history stages of Alexandrium fundyense have different swimming behaviors and show different responses to water movement. Early stationary phase cells assemble in bioconvection patterns along the water surface and as stripes in the water, while cells in exponential growth do not. We studied the swimming behavior of early stationary phase A. fundyense cells, both on the individual level and on the population level. Cells assembled in spots in shallow Petri dishes, and were studied using an inverted microscope. We analyzed 53 videos of cells at different distances from the center of accumulated spots of cells with the program CellTrak for swimming behavior of individual cells. The closer the cells were to the center of spots, the faster they swam (>600 µm s −1 in the center of spots compared to ca. 300 µm s −1 outside) and the more often they changed direction (>1400 degrees s −1 in the center compared to <400 degrees s −1 outside). On a population level, the behavior of spots of assembled cells was studied using time-lapse photo graphy. The spots entrained more and more cells as they grew and fused with each other; the closer the spots came to each other, the faster they moved until they fused. We suggest that chemical attraction between gametes causes the observed behavior.
Effect of stiffeners in Lean Duplex Stainless Steel(LDSS) hollow circular stub columns under pureaxial compression

The present study is an attempt to study the effect of various geometrical stiffeners parameters in the critical/ultimate buckling load capacity of circular Lean Duplex Stainless Steel (LDSS) stub column loaded axially using finite element (FE) analysis, through Abaqus (2009). The effect of increase in number of stiffeners (Ns), thickness of stiffener and width of stiffener were studied on the critical buckling load capacity. Based on the FE analyses, an increase of buckling load capacity has been observed with increasing number of stiffeners. The increase of buckling load followed a nearly linear trend. The buckling load for the stiffened column in comparison to the unstiffened column, increases from ~ 120 % to 180 %, when Ns (number of stiffeners) is increased by 500% from Ns = 4. An increase of buckling load capacity has also been observed for both increasing in thickness and width of the stiffeners.
Antennas and Metamaterials for Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting

The emergence of microwave energy harvesting systems, commonly referred to as rectenna or Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) systems, has enabled numerous applications in many areas since their primary goal is to recycle the ambient microwave energy. In such systems, microstrip antennas are used as the main source for collecting the electromagnetic energy. In this work, a novel collector based on metamaterial particles, in what is known as a Split Ring Resonator (SRR), to harvest electromagnetic energy is presented. Such collectors are much smaller in size and more efficient than existing collectors (antennas). A feasibility study of SRRs to harvest electromagnetic energy is conducted using a full wave simulator (HFSS). To prove the concept, a 5.8 GHz SRR is designed and fabricated and then tested using a power source, an Infiniium oscilloscope and a commercially available patch antenna array. When excited by a plane wave with an H-field normal to the structure, a voltage build up of 611 mV is measured across a surface mount resistive load inserted in the gap of a single loop SRR. In addition, a new efficiency concept is introduced, taking into account the microwave-to-AC conversion efficiency which is missing from earlier work. Finally, a 9X9 SRR array is compared with a 2X2 patch antenna array, both placed in a fixed footprint. The simulation results show that the array of SRRs can harvest electromagnetic energy more efficiently and over a wider bandwidth range.
A Longitudinal Study of Motivation and Well-being Indices in Marathon Runners

Motivational consequences of running were examined longitudinally, by assessing the significance of basic psychological need satisfaction, vitality, and burnout on marathoners' well-being when training toward a major running race. Within a self-determination theory (SDT) [8, 16] framework, one argues that the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness have to be satisfied in order to experience optimal health and functioning [8, 16]. Additionally, previous research has revealed associations between need satisfaction, well-being, vitality, and burnout in sports participants [15, 36]. In the current study, the findings emphasized that need satisfaction, particularly the need for autonomy and competence, had the greatest influence on and was positively associated with well-being (p ＜ .01) over the course of a two-month training period. The importance of vitality and burnout was further underlined with a two-fold increase in predicting changes in well-being at the end of the training period (p ＜ .05). Additionally, important gender differences in the psychological adaption to training were unveiled, and the findings were more significant for women compared to men (f2 ＞ .28). Especially, female runners' experienced exhaustion during the tough training period represented significant changes in perceived well-being (p ＜ .001). Together, these findings suggest that monitoring motivational variables is crucial for experiences of well-being during great performances.
COREweb, a web-based information management solution for experimental data from the field of coral reef ecology

In the profit-oriented business and industry sector, information management (IM) solutions are well established. But in coral reef ecology, the IM aspects of experimental design, data acquisition and evaluation, documentation and publication follow the individual workers' experience rather than established standards. Al- though these tasks are largely automatable, no useable guidance tool has been established so far that would lead the worker through the experimental life cycle and enforce validation, documentation, completeness, correct- ness and consistency of data. Often, this causes loss of information and diminishes data quality as well as com- patibility. We developed COREweb, a dynamic web application to automate the scientific work process in con- sistency with established scientific work practices. The underlying data model is capable of managing any kind of manipulative or monitoring ecological experiment. The user operates COREweb through an intuitive Graphi- cal User Interface and focuses on the scientific experimentation and validation process. Data can be shared among team members. COREweb is scalable from a single-user, single-desktop environment up to a distributed network, connecting teams worldwide. As COREweb is easily adapted to many different scientific experiments, it can serve as a prototype model for useable scientific IM tools that make valuable data better available to deci- sion makers.
Researchers, Indigenous Peoples, and Place-Based Learning Communities

Relations between external researchers and indigenous communities have been increasingly strained by differences in understanding and in expectation about the relevance of research. In the field of resource management, the potential for conflict over research is increased by the politics surrounding control over the resource management decision making processes. In this article, we propose the creation of dialogic networks that engage researchers and indigenous people as collaborators in a process of knowledge production. Such an applied research process can produce context-specific knowledge networks that support management and planning decisions by indigenous people; these networks we refer to as place-based learning communities. We present a researcher's perspective on this approach through our experience with the Shoal Lake Resource Institute of Iskatewizaagegan No. 39 Independent First Nation located in northwestern Ontario.
WebLab: An integration infrastructure to ease the development of multimedia processing applications

In this paper, we introduce the EADS’ WebLab platform ( http://weblab-project.org ) that aims at providing an integration infrastructure for multimedia informati on processing components. In the following, we expl ain the motivations that have led to the realisation of thi s project within EADS and the requirements that hav e led our choices. After a quick review of existing informati on processing platforms, we present the chosen serv ice oriented architecture, and the three layers of the WebLab project (infrastructure, services and applic ations). Then, we detail the chosen exchange model and normalised services interfaces that enable semantic interoperability between information processing components. We present the technical choices made to guarantee technical interoperability between the co mponents by the use of an Enterprise Service Bus (E SB). Moreover, we present the orchestration and portal m echanisms that we have added to the WebLab to enable architects to quickly build multimedia processing a pplications. In the following, we illustrate the in tegration process by describing three applications that have been developed on top of this architecture on three R&D projects (Vitalas, WebContent and eWok-Hub). Finally, we propose some perspectives such as the realisa tion of an information processing services directory, or a toolkit following MDA (Model Driven Architecture) approach to ease the integration process.
Understanding first-year students’ curiosity and interest about physics—lessons learned from the HOPE project

This paper focuses on results of an interview based survey of first-year university physics students, carried out within the EU Horizons in Physics Education (HOPE) project (http://hopenetwork.eu/). 94 interviews conducted in 13 universities have been analyzed to investigate the factors that inspire young people to study physics. In particular, the main motivational factor, which was proven to consist of personal interest and curiosity, was unfolded into different categories and detailed interest profiles were produced. The results are arguably useful to help academic curriculum developers and teaching personnel in physics departments to provide guidance to students in developing and focusing their interest towards specific sub-fields and/or to design targeted recruitment and outreach initiatives.
Southern ( SAIS ) 3-1-2005 Examining Evaluation Across the IT Value Chain

Information technology (IT) investments frequently yield unexpected, uncertain, and undesired results. Therefore, managers must either locate or devise methods for effectively evaluating IT initiatives. Unfortunately, a review of the extant literature suggests that existing methods are frequently either inappropriate or ineffective. In analyzing this problem, we have found that numerous evaluation methods appear to exhibit a tendency toward a ‘product-based’ view of information technology while ignoring its ‘service-based’ dimensions. In addition, we believe that a critical gap exists between the discipline’s conceptualization of “IS success” and the identification and/or creation of metrics for predicting or measuring the contribution of IT to an organization’s value chain. In this paper, we outline our ongoing research efforts to examine the link between IT-based activities and organizational value creation. Specifically, we discuss our motivations for working to develop an IS process model based upon conceptualizations of organizational value chains that is explicitly mapped to the causal relationship models of IS success, such as DeLone and McLean (1992, 2003).
B-Graph Sampling to Estimate the Size of a Hidden Population

Abstract Link-tracing designs are often used to estimate the size of hidden populations by utilizing the relational links between their members. A major problem in studies of hidden populations is the lack of a convenient sampling frame. The most frequently applied design in studies of hidden populations is respondent-driven sampling in which no sampling frame is used. However, in some studies multiple but incomplete sampling frames are available. In this article, we introduce the B-graph design that can be used in such situations. In this design, all available incomplete sampling frames are joined and turned into one sampling frame, from which a random sample is drawn and selected respondents are asked to mention their contacts. By considering the population as a bipartite graph of a two-mode network (those from the sampling frame and those who are not on the frame), the number of respondents who are directly linked to the sampling frame members can be estimated using Chao’s and Zelterman’s estimators for sparse data. The B-graph sampling design is illustrated using the data of a social network study from Utrecht, the Netherlands.
FINANCIAL MARKET INTEGRATION OF MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICAN (MENA) COUNTRIES

This study examines the financial market integration of four emerging economies in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, namely, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Egypt and Oman for a period of April 1999 to December 2008. The study utilizes the GARCH model by using daily stock prices from the market indices of these four emerging economies. The results suggest that financial markets in MENA region are integrated among them and segmented globally during the period of the study. Further, the financial markets in MENA region are inefficient because of the predictability of the future prices of a market based on the prices of other markets.
Preparing Teachers for the Contemporary Nigeria

This paper focused on preparing teachers for the contemporary Nigeria. Teaching is a versatile field that requires at all times the correct identification of indices of developments in the society. This responsibility makes it imperative that teachers be an embodiment of a constant search for updated knowledge in various fields of Endeavour. The fulcrum of this paper therefore lies on the factors inhibiting teaching profession in Nigeria. This historical approach is used for this study. The findings of the study revealed the fallen standards of education which have been traced to among other factors, the quality of teacher’s programmes in the country. This paper recommended an urgent improvement in the programmes for initial teacher education in the country, improved funding of the education sector and complete overhauling of the teacher’s education curriculum towards meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the 21 st century education n Nigeria.
Growth features of the Amur sleeper, Perccottus glenii (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Odontobutidae), in the invaded Carpathian Basin, Hungary

Background. The Amur sleeper, Perccottus glenii Dybowski, 1877, is the most invasive alien fish species in the native aquatic communities in central Europe. Although the accelerated invasion of P. glenii has been well documented, there is little information on the ecological and growth parameters of non-native populations in this region. The aim of this study was to describe the growth features of the population of P. glenii in a shallow oxbow lake in the Carpathian Basin. Materials and methods. Our study sample consisted of 1239 individuals (628 ♂ + 611 ♀) collected from an oxbow lake near the Tisza River in the same month for three years (2013–2015). The length, weight, age structure, sex-dependent growth rate, and the condition factor of the collected specimens were determined. Results. The sex ratio was 0.49 (♀ ÷ (♀ + ♂)). The standard length and weight of the collected P. glenii specimens ranged from 20.7 to 127.7 mm and from 0.3 to 75.8 g, respectively. The length–weight relations (SL–W) were allometrically negative for the males (W = 3.2 × 10–5SL2.960), females (W = 3.8 × 10–5SL2.921), and both sexes (W = 3.5 × 10–5SL2.940), without significant differences between males and females. According to the length-frequency analysis, five age groups were differentiated. The von Bertalanffy growth models were L∞ = 138.87 mm, k = 0.21, t0 = –0.54 (♂), L∞ = 174.21 mm, k = 0.17, t0 = –0.33 (♀), L∞ = 154.01 mm, k = 0.19, t0 = –0.45 (♂ + ♀). The growth performance parameters were Ф′ = 3.61 (♂), Ф′ = 3.71 (♀), Ф′ = 3.65 (♂ + ♀), respectively. Conclusion. Due to unequal investment in reproduction, there was a significant difference in the growth rate between males and females. The literature data showed that invasive gobies and odontobutids (e.g., P. glenii) exhibit more opportunistic reproduction strategy in newly colonized areas, which may contribute to the invasion success. This strategy (e.g., earlier maturation, longer spawning period, etc.) results in slower growth rate due to energetic trade-off between reproduction and somatic growth. The observed growth rate of invasive Amur sleeper population (especially in the older age groups) was slower than that of native and more established naturalized populations in Eurasia.
DESIGN THINKING AND PRODUCT ROADMAPPING IN THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

: The paper employs the combination of design thinking and product mapping approaches for building key skills and capabilities for technology management during the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It presents an overview of the literature of these two approaches, showing a gap in research that proposes their combination. It defines technology roadmapping planning as a human-centred complex problem and proposes a simple three-step sequence to assess when design thinking is applicable. The paper presents the results of using this approach in a business unit in a private non-profit research and development institute. One is the identification of six different, but interlinked, concepts of technology road-mapping that are relevant to stakeholders. The other is a ―Joint Planning‖ experiment, which suggests that road-mapping planning should rely on the co-creation of all relevant stakeholders and should take place in multiples points of the process, in order to grasp any new learning and context that may arise during the execution of the road-mapping initiative
Social Justice in Control Systems Engineering

What occurs when social justice dimensions are integrated into a feedback control systems class, and what impacts does such integration have on student interest and motivation? Social justice defies a universal definition, but is related to the vision that people and communities have the right to equality (in various senses), to health, to dignity, and to opportunities. Social elements such as social justice may not be perceived as “engineering” by faculty and students, leading to an engineering workforce poorly trained in dealing with the social dimensions of sustainable engineering solutions. This important concept currently receives little attention within the standard engineering curricula, particularly within the engineering sciences. The pilot-study research presented in this article uses a mixed-methods approach to assess the state of social justice awareness of students as they enter an “Introduction to Feedback Control Systems” (IFCS) class. Social justice interventions are integrated to support students as they learn about the inherent, yet often invisible, connections between social justice and control systems engineering. Instruments, such as surveys and focus groups, were used to measure the impact of the social justice interventions. The results and findings from these analyses, considering both the section with interventions and a non-intervention section of the course, are reported here. This analysis supports that participants have had some exposure to social justice but struggle to place it within the context of technical engineering science core courses. However, the participants also provided feedback on specific mechanisms for integrating social justice dimensions within IFCS that are likely to promote future student learning.