Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Who are our informal recyclers? An inquiry to uncover crisis and potential in Victoria, Canada

What is considered garbage embodies a recoverable economic value, and environmental cost if not recycled. Throughout the world, the often marginalised and impoverished population earns a living through informal recycling. This is also true for Victoria, British Columbia, one of the most affluent cities in Canada. This paper discusses results of a participatory socio-economic survey involving informal recyclers in Victoria, BC to determine their livelihood determinants. The findings reveal that “binning” is an important survival strategy to generate income. A new waste-management model that considers the social and environmental context is needed. Inclusive public policies can respond to the livelihood concerns outlined in this paper by facilitating access to recyclable materials, devising occupational safety improvements and educating about alternative strategies for resource recovery. This model can contribute to the overall sustainability of the community by reducing the waste of resources and people, empowering marginalised populations and reducing the environmental impacts of natural resource use and waste disposal.
Average seasonal changes in chlorophyll a in Icelandic waters

The standard algorithms used to derive sea surface chlorophyll a concentration from remotely sensed ocean colour data are based almost entirely on the measurements of surface water samples collected in open sea (case 1) waters which cover ~60% of the worlds oceans, where strong correlations between reflectance and chlorophyll concentration have been found. However, satellite chlorophyll data for waters outside the defined case 1 areas, but derived using standard calibrations, are frequently used without reference to local in situ measurements and despite well-known factors likely to lead to inaccuracy. In Icelandic waters, multiannual averages of 8-d composites of SeaWiFS chlorophyll concentration accounted for just 20% of the variance in a multiannual dataset of in situ chlorophyll a measurements. Nevertheless, applying penalized regression spline methodology to model the spatial and temporal patterns of in situ measurements, using satellite chlorophyll as one of the predictor variables, improved the correlation considerably. Day number, representing seasonal variation, accounted for substantial deviation between SeaWiFS and in situ estimates of surface chlorophyll. The final model, using bottom depth and bearing to the sampling location as well as the two variables mentioned above, explained 49% of the variance in the fitting dataset.
The WSRT ZoA Perseus-Pisces filament wide-field H i imaging survey – I. H i catalogue and atlas

We present results of a blind 21cm H I-line imaging survey of a galaxy overdensity located behind the Milky Way at l, b ≈ 160°, 0.5°. The overdensity corresponds to a zone-of-avoidance crossing of the Perseus-Pisces Supercluster filament. Although it is known that this filament contains an X-ray galaxy cluster (3C 129) hosting two strong radio galaxies, little is known about galaxies associated with this potentially rich cluster because of the high Galactic dust extinction. We mapped a sky area of ˜9.6 deg2 using the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope in a hexagonal mosaic of 35 pointings observed for 12 h each, in the radial velocity range cz = 2400-16 600 km s-1. The survey has a sensitivity of 0.36 mJy beam-1 rms at a velocity resolution of 16.5 km s-1. We detected 211 galaxies, 62 per cent of which have a near-infrared counterpart in the UKIDSS Galactic Plane Survey. We present a catalogue of the H I properties and an H I atlas containing total intensity maps, position-velocity diagrams, global H I profiles and UKIDSS counterpart images. For the resolved galaxies we also present H I velocity fields and radial H I surface density profiles. A brief analysis of the structures outlined by these galaxies finds that 87 of them lie at the distance of the Perseus-Pisces Supercluster (cz ˜ 4000-8000 km s-1) and seem to form part of the 3C 129 cluster. Further 72 detections trace an overdensity at a velocity of cz ≈ 10 000 km s-1 and seem to coincide with a structure predicted from mass density reconstructions in the first 2MASS Redshift Survey.
Identification and Hierarchy of Main Electronic Health Record Components in Occupational Medicine

S tarting from the legal requirements relating to structuring of medical records in occupational medicine and international requirements regarding the certification of electronic health records we have focused on structuring and then evaluating an EHR model in occupational medicine that integrates the main functions and certification criteria required by the European and US certification bodies. The application we designed, called Medmun, structured for use in occupational medicine practices based on the model of medical file provided by the Romanian legislation, integrates both necessary components of occupational medicine practice for administration of characteristic information related to socio-economic unit, work place, health surveillance as well as components of specific EHR functionality. The application has been submitted for free evaluation by specialist physicians of five counties over a period of nine months and subsequently assessed using a questionnaire on the usefulness of specific functional components in the EHR occupational medicine practice. The model was positively evaluated after experimental employment by occupational health practitioners. They consider that absence of legislative support for EHR implementation in medical practice is the main obstacle to the use of such applications in occupational medicine practice.
Sea temperature variations mediate annual changes in the diet of Australian fur seals in Bass Strait

Using a 9-yr data set, we investigated annual fluctuations in the diet of an apex predator, the Australian fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus. At Seal Rocks (northern Bass Strait), home to 25% of the entire species population, we assessed diet through collections (1997 to 2006) of scat and regurgitate samples. We identified prey remains of 42 fish taxa and 7 cephalopod taxa. Only crustaceans that were fish parasites or fish prey (amphipods and isopods) were found; no birds were identified in the samples. Six species represented 80% (as frequency of occurrence) of the fish prey, and the arrow squid Nototodarus gouldi represented 70% of cephalopod prey. There was significant annual variability in the diet. Principal component analysis indicated this was variability due to the presence of redbait Emmelichthys nitidus in some years, and its near absence and replacement in other years by increased proportions of barracouta Thyrsites atun, red cod Pseudophycis bachus and leatherjackets (Family Triglidae). Generalised Linear Models indicated the annual variation was related to mean sea surface temperatures in western Bass Strait where the seals foraged. Redbait proliferated in cooler years and were less abundant in warmer years. No corresponding annual correlation was evident between the prey assemblages and either annual fisheries catch-per-unit-effort or the annual mean Southern Oscillation Index. The propensity for diet regimes to persist for several years, then change suggests that oceanographic fluctuations probably influence previously unrecognised multi-year cyclic fluctuations of prey and of Bass Strait ecosystems. © Inter-Research 2008.
Parasocial Relationships in the Modern Russian Society: Sociological Analysis in the Context of Regional Research

The research paper considers the problem of studying parasocial relationships in the modern Russian society. In particular, the importance of such an analysis in the context of sociological, philosophical and psychological studies of the region population it postulated. Parasocial relationships are an important socio-cultural factor and their study can significantly enrich the idea of such socio-cultural phenomena as identity of the region residents. The research paper substantiates the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach to the subject of parasocial relationships and reveals the specific character of sociological focus of the phenomenon consideration.
Imposing curvature conditions on flexible functional forms for GNP functions

This paper empirically investigates the implications of the choice of dates when imposing local restrictions to maintain convexity in output prices and concavity in factor endowments in the the estimation of a GNP function approximated by a translog (TL) function. Using macroeconomic data for Switzerland, we compare the TL to a symmetric normalized quadratic (SNQ) function on which global curvature restrictions can be imposed. When both functions are unrestricted for curvature, convexity in prices is violated more often than concavity in factor endowments. The number of points for which both curvature conditions hold is sensitive to the date at which local restrictions are imposed on the TL, but estimated TL elasticities are robust. Through searching for an appropriate date, the TL matched the SNQ’s ability to impose curvature conditions at all points. However, many TL and SNQ elasticities differ in sign and magnitude. The likelihood dominance criterion and in-sample forecasts comparisons favored the TL. Thus, choosing a functional form solely based on the possibility of imposing global curvature conditions is not advised.
Credit-driven Asset Inflation and Intergenerational Wealth Transfers

Credit-driven asset price inflation is shown to implement the optimal social security plan for an overlap- ping-generations economy. A simple asset-credit scheme of intergenerational financial trade provides wealth transfers between generations that replicate optimal social security transfers. The optimal rate of asset price inflation outpaces the stationary growth rate of GDP. I demonstrate a close link between the asset-credit scheme and the Friedman rule of optimal monetary dynamic.
3D elastic time-lapse full waveform inversion using multi-component seismic data

As a result of the increase in the computational power the recent years, we are now able to use the full waveform inversion (FWI) method in a full three dimensional isotropic elastic setting. We use a 3D implementation of the FWI method on timelapse seismic multi-component data. We investigate two datadifference based approaches for estimating time-lapse effects directly in the Pand S-wave parameter models. In addition, we investigate how the inversion of the two parameter models should be performed, to reduce the total cost of the method. We find that both approaches are able to detect and estimate the time-lapse effects in the models. The inversion of the Pand S-wave velocity models in the monitor inversion may be performed simultaneously, as long as the baseline models are close to the true solution.
The Research of Perceptron Based Intrusion Detection System

In this research, it uses an AODV routing protocol for the analysis. It explains the route discovery phase in the AODV protocol and highlight the vulnerabilities in it that can be exploited by an attacker. It then investigates the impact of a malicious route flood attack on the network. It use an AODV routing protocol for our analysis, explains the route discovery phase in the AODV protocol and highlight the vulnerabilities in it that can be exploited by an attacker. It then investigates the impact of a malicious route flood attack on the network.
Characterization of inequality changes through microeconometric decomposition

During the early eighties, the Paraguayan economy benefited from high public investment rates resulting from the construction of the Itaipu and Yacyreta hydro-electric power plants. The country made its own way of stability and growth during a period of hyperinflations and external debt crisis in many South American countries. Nevertheless, its economy fell into a growth crisis (still avoiding debt crisis and hyperinflation) during the second half of the eighties, once the construction period of the hydroelectric power plants came to an end. During the first half of the nineties, Paraguayan economy recovered from recession, now driven by agricultural production and a re-export business boom, based on special arrangements for duty rates for electric and electronic equipment imported to the MERCOSUR (Mercado Comun del Sur regional free trade agreement established in 1991 by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) region via Paraguay. The agricultural success was based on a recovery of international cotton prices, combined with a successful cotton extension program for small farmers within the country and a quick and widespread expansion of mechanized soybean farming. The commercial success with electric and electronic components was based on re-export. Paraguayan import duty rates from outside MERCOSUR were so low, that Brazilian and Argentine enterprises would prefer to buy these products re-exported from Paraguay, rather than importing themselves from outside MERCOSUR, which would have meant higher duty rates. Before this background, Paraguayan GDP per capita grew until 1995 and then remained relatively stable until 1998. The per capita income26 Gini coefficient fell from 55.8 to 54.0. Mean per capita growth was 0.63% and poverty dropped from 38.2% to 32.1 %.
The D-Grid Integration Project: How to Build a Grid for Different Communities

The Grid world is highly dynamic due to the appearance of new resources, easier access and new Grid applications. Moreover, an increasing number of scientiflc communities begins to realize that Grids will become an indispensable tool for modern science. However, the requirements of those communities often difier signiflcantly from each other. Therefore, it is a particularly di‐cult challenge to establish a national Grid infrastructure that serves as many communities as possible. To address this challenge, the German D-Grid has developed a concept that is based on development of independent Community Grids that are connected with a single integration project. Further, the process will involve several steps to consider dependencies between the various projects and their tasks. Presently, we are still at the beginning of the realization of a German Grid. Therefore in this paper, we flrst brie∞y explain this concept in this paper. Then we focus on the integration project and describe its tasks in more detail. This includes some flrst results and experiences that were achieved within the flrst year of the project. Finally, some plans for future steps are presented.
Factors affecting white spruce and aspen survival after partial harvest

Summary 1. Variable retention harvest is an increasingly popular management alternative to clear-cutting in boreal forest ecosystems. This harvest system retains a portion of the mature trees to maintain structural elements of the forest and preserve biodiversity. Residual trees must, however, survive in the post-harvest environment to realize these benefits. Here, we investigate which tree and stand characteristics are associated with high survival to aid foresters in designing harvesting prescriptions. 2. We conducted an operational-scale experiment broadly representative of western North American boreal forests. Treatments were four overstorey compositions (ranging from deciduous to conifer dominated) and five rates of canopy retention (10%, 20%, 50%, 75% and a 100% control). Factors affecting mortality were analysed for the leading tree species (aspen Populus tremuloides Michx. and white spruce Picea glauca (Moench) Voss 5 and 10 years after harvest. 3. Mortality of residual aspen was highest in 10% and 20% retention treatments with c.30% mortality after 5 years and c. 50% after 10 years. At year 5, most of the dead trees remained upright as snags (87%), but by year 10, c.40% of dead trees had fallen. By contrast, mortality was much lower in the 50% and 75% retention treatments, and similar to that of the unharvested control. Results for white spruce mortality were similar, except the shallow-rooted spruce that was more susceptible to be blown down. 4. Regression tree analysis was used to identify individual tree attributes that predict 5- and 10-year survival. Mortality was higher for trees with a low percentage of live crown and high height ⁄ diameter ratio, when trees were very tall or were close to machine corridors. Smaller residual spruce trees from deciduous-dominated stands had the lowest mortality rates. 5. Synthesis and application. Where live trees are critical elements of wildlife habitat, forest managers should maintain ‡50% in retention harvest systems. At lower levels of retention (£20%), mortality can be reduced if foresters select retention trees that are stout, possess large live crowns and are small to intermediate in size. These factors can be used to help design partial harvest systems for effective biodiversity conservation strategies.
Modelling the material and energy costs of the transition to low-carbon energy

The evolution from 2000 to 2050 of the needs in concrete, steel, aluminium and copper to build the infrastructure of electricity generation is modelled for the scenarios of Garcia-Olivares et al. (2012), Ecofys-WWF (2012) and the blue map scenario of the IEA (2010). A simple dynamic model is used to estimate the primary production, recycling and lost flows as well as the cumulative stocks of material to be produced, to go into the infrastructure and to be lost. The energy of material production is also estimated. When compared with the expected evolution of global material and energy demands, the modelling results suggest that i) the transition to low-carbon energies implies a substantial increase of raw materials and energy consumption, ii) the shorter lifetime of wind and solar facilities and the loss of recycling implies that the total amount of metal to be produced during the deployment of the infrastructure of energy is significantly higher than their amount stocked in the infrastructure, and iii) the needs in materials and energy will occur in a period of expected increase of primary metal consumption at the world scale and limited potential of recycling
Mechanism of regional enrichment of groundwater by boron : the examples of Bangladesh and Michigan , USA

In Bangladesh, concentrations of boron in groundwater reach 2.1 mgL and are high regionally in alluvial aquifers of Late Pleistocene/Holocene age. Concentrations exceed 0.5 mgL 1 across approximately 6700 km of the deep aquifer (>150 m depth) and 3000 km of the shallow aquifer (<150 m depth). In the Carboniferous sandstone and shale aquifers in Ingham County, Michigan, concentrations reach 6.1 mgL 1 and high values are widespread in the NE of the county. These concentrations exceed the regulatory guideline values for human consumption of 0.5 mgL 1 (WHO) or 0.9 mgL 1 (USA). The boron has desorbed from mineral surfaces as freshwater flushing displaces saline waters from the aquifers. In Bangladesh, desorption is driven by decreasing ionic strength, the equilibrium re-adjustment of mineral sorption sites to the low boron concentration in freshwater, and competitive exchange with HCO3/CO3. In deep Bangladesh aquifers in Barisal District (>250 m deep), boron enrichment delineates a buried estuary marking a previous course of the Ganges and/or Brahmaputra rivers. Boron enrichment is accompanied by ion-exchange that depletes Ca and enriches Na in the flushing freshwater. The patterns of enrichment and depletion indicate the direction of water quality change, in terms of salinization or freshening, with greater sensitivity than absolute chemical parameters. 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Stock Price Reactions to Public TV Programs on Listed Japanese Companies

This paper investigates stock price reactions to Japan's popular TV program "Project X," which was broadcast on NHK between 2000 and 2005. By using a standard event study methodology, we found that stock prices of these companies increased on average after the broadcast. In particular, the programs focusing on product development and marketing tended to raise stock prices.
Modelling of the fracture process zone to improve the crack propagation criterion in concrete

Modelling of tension cracking in quasi-brittle materials, such as concrete, plays an important role in improving the reliability and load-bearing capacity of the structure. In this study fracture mechanics is used to model tensile cracks with strain softening behaviour in concrete. An interface element, which considers the softening zone in terms of a stiffness matrix, is applied to simulate the cohesive zone model (CZM) as well as the stress-free region. To estimate the nodal force caused by shear stress, a new constitutive model is proposed based on previous experimental results. An improved Griffith-type energy approach is employed such that it can model the propagation of a discrete crack based on an accurate stiffness matrix. This model improves the analysis of discrete crack propagation and is more accurate than other existing models. To validate the model, three benchmark beams are simulated, namely a plain concrete beam with initial notch, a notched reinforced concrete beam and a beam with simple supports. The simulation results are admissible compared to the results reported recently in the literature.
A METALLURGICAL OVERVIEW OF TI – BASED ALLOY IN BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

Titanium (Ti)-based alloys are prominently used in biomedical application. This review paper emphasizes on some of the important aspects of the Ti-alloys in terms of metallurgical aspects, manufacturing routes and biocompatibility. Two kinds of structure are reviewed namely dense and porous, both differs in terms of purpose and satisfies different needs. This advancement of materials and equipment helps to improve the quality of life for patients and alleviate their health problems. Metallic materials, mainly Ti-based alloys have been used commercially as bone implant owing to its promising mechanical properties, biocompatibility and bioactivity. The outmost important issue in manufacturing of this alloy is the impurity contents, specifically oxygen and carbon which contribute to decreasing in material performance of the alloy attributed from the formation of unwanted oxide compounds such as TiO 2 and TiC. Another issue is the mismatch value of the Young’s modulus between the metallic implant and bone that result in stress shielding effect. The structure of Ti-based alloy is mainly comprised of α-phase, β-phase or a combination of both that result in variation of Young’s modulus ranging from 45 -110 GPa. Compared to α-phase Ti alloy, the β-phase rich alloys may exhibit lower value of Young modulus through the right processing technique. Therefore, the development of β-phase Ti-alloys has been researched progressively in line with the need of low Young’s modulus that suit for implant applications.
Docetaxel : Solid state characterization by X-ray powder diffraction and thermogravimetry

Docetaxel, a stoichiometric hydrate containing three water molecules per molecule of drug substance, is thermodynamically stable under ambient conditions of pressure, temperature and relative humidity. Dehydration of this form was subjected to X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and thermogravimetric experiments. To obtain a better understanding of the observed structural changes between trihydrate and dehydrated forms, the crystalline structure of docetaxel was refined using high resolution XRPD data coupled with an ab initio direct space method.