Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Habitat analysis and exclusive bank feeding of the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus L. 1758) in the Coswine Swamps of French Guiana, South America

A study was conducted to analyse the habitat of the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus L. 1758) in the Coswine Swamps of northwest French Guiana, South America. Water parameters were similar to those described in other studies: water depth varied from 2.5 m to more than 20 m; water temperature was between 24.5 °C and 30.3 °C and pH varied between 5.5 and 6.9. Salinity was low (0.0%c to 1.3%c) with 86.9% of all samples taken in fresh water. No submerged aquatic vegetation was found in the study area. A botanical survey along the banks revealed that most plants seem to be potential forage for manatees. Red Mangrove is very abundant throughout the area. It is suggested, therefore, that manatees graze on the bank vegetation, where feeding traces were found, or leave the area to feed. The Coswine Swamps provide a suitable manatee habitat and are able to support a large manatee population. Food supply is sufficient, brackish and fresh water are available, and the site is free from human disturbance. Further studies should be carried out to assess the population size, travel routes and foraging patterns, as well as acquire detailed information about the other manatee habitats in French Guiana.
Applying Environmental Cost Management Accounting in Brick Production Companies – Evidence from Vietnam

Application of environmental cost management accounting (ECMA) in companies is becoming increasingly clear, especially in production sector. ECMA has attracted significant attention and it is a useful tool for improving environmental performance and enhancing financial benefits. However, in Vietnam, ECMA has not really become popular and is considered a new field in both research and practice. Thus, the paper will focus on researching application of ECMA in brick production companies that has negative impacts on the environment. Research objectives is to determine factors that influence application of ECMA in Vietnamese brick companies. So that author presents two theories to construct five hypotheses about factors impacting on ECMA application including contigency theory and institutional theory. The study uses qualitive research methods to explore influence factors. Results show that five factors including government coercion pressure, normative pressure, memitic pressure, positive environment strategy and managers’ perceipt of environmental uncertain have positive relationships with ECMA application. Derived from factors, the study provides some recommendations on brick production companies, the government and stakeholders to increase level off ECMA application. Keywords: Brick Production Companies, Environmental Cost Management Accounting (ECMA), Contigency Theory, Institutional Theory, Vietnam.
Trace metal and biomarker levels in tissues of Argopecten purpuratus in the north of Chile, and the potential use of this species as a bioindicator of metallic stress

The capacity to bioaccumulate trace metals present in San Jorge Bay, Antofagasta, Chile, was determined in northern scallop, Argopecten purpuratus, to examine the value of this important commercially species as a bioindicator of heavy metal pollution in areas where it is cultured. Scallops were sampled in summer 2009 in four sites: three natural populations (Coloso, Historic District and La Rinconada, marine reserve), and a commercial hatchery (Colorado). The concentrations of three heavy metals (copper, cadmium and lead) were then determined through stripping chronopotentiometric methods, and the levels of four biomarkers: three genes implicated in the stress and oxidative metabolism, i.e., glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione s-transferase (GST) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and a protein marker in the digestive gland and gill, a metallothionein (MT). The Historic District, located in the downtown area of the city, showed the highest metal concentration of all the sampled sites, as well as the highest levels of the four biomarkers. This can be largely attributed to the nearby international port area of the town and high sea traffic flow, exacerbated by the prevailing winds.
Title Partial data-dependent superimposed training based iterative channel estimation for OFDM systems over doubly selective channels

In this paper, partial data-dependent superimposed training based channel estimation for OFDM systems over doubly selective channels (DSCs) is addressed. Due to the presence of unknown data as interference, we first derive a minimum mean square error (MMSE) channel estimator by treating the effect of unknown data as noise. To further improve the performance, a novel iterative algorithm which jointly estimates channel and suppresses interference from data is proposed via variational inference approach. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm converges after a few iterations. Furthermore, after convergence, the performance of the proposed channel estimator is very close to that with full training at high SNRs.
Describing spatial layouts as an M2 signed language learner

This study explores the L2M2 acquisition of Norwegian Sign Language by hearing adults, with a focus on the production and use of depicting signs. A group of students and their instructors were asked to respond to prompt questions about directions and locations in Norwegian Sign Language, and their responses were then compared. An examination of the students’ depicting signs shows that they struggled more with the phonological parameters orientation and movement, rather than with handshape. In addition, they used fewer depicting signs than their instructors, and instead relied more on lexical signs. Finally, students were found to struggle with the coordination of depicting signs within the signing space and in relation to their own bodies. It is hoped that the findings from this study can be used to inform future research as well as curricula development and pedagogy.
Bacterioplankton productivity in lakes of the Taylor Valley, Antarctica, during the polar night transition

Research on the lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, is typically conducted during the period of 24 h sunlight (October to January) when logistical support is readily available. As part of the International Polar Year initiative, we obtained logistical support to study microbial dynamics in the permanently ice-covered lakes of the Taylor Valley during the transition from 24 h of sunlight to the complete darkness of the polar night (mid-April). Our study focused on the perennially ice-covered lakes Fryxell (FRX), East Lobe Bonney (ELB), and West Lobe Bonney (WLB), all of which are chemically stratified and have food webs dominated by microorganisms. Depth-integrated bacterioplankton productivity (BP; leucine incorporation [Leu] and thymidine incorporation [TdR]) in the lakes ranged from 1.2 to 3.4 mg C m−2 d−1. Overall, summer was characterized by relatively high rates of BP and photoautotrophic primary productivity. Rapid decreases in photosynthetically active radiation marked a subsequent transition period, which was characterized by variable cell counts and decreasing Leu:TdR ratios (ratios >1 signify a physiological shift from growth to maintenance mode). Finally, cell counts decreased and Leu:TdR increased by as much as 280% during the fall, revealing a distinct change in the physiological state of the bacterioplankton as light-mediated primary productivity ceased. Our data reveal that the shift in physiological state may result from a switch from contemporary phytoplankton-excreted carbon to other sources of dissolved organic carbon, which can support the bacterioplankton populations through the winter.
Heat inactivation of native plasmin, plasminogen and plasminogen activators in bovine milk: a revisited study

Thermal inactivation, at temperatures between 60 o C and 140 o C, of native plasmin, plasminogen and plasminogen activators were studied in bovine milk using improved enzymatic as- says. While measured heat inactivation kinetic of plasmin and plasminogen were in line with previ- ously reported values, plasminogen activators were, surprisingly, found to be as heat sensitive as plasmin and plasminogen in a milk system containing proteins with free SH groups. Activation ener- gies (Ea) for the heat denaturation of plasmin, plasminogen and plasminogen activators were 29, 35 and 24 kJ.mol -1 , respectively, in the temperature range 95-140 o C , and 244, 230 and 241 kJ.mol -1 , respectively, in the temperature range 70-90 o C. The heat inactivation of the whole plasmin system in milk appeared to be directly influenced by the presence of β-lactoglobulin. The rate of plasmin inacti- vation during long heat treatments decreased rapidly, probably because of the disappearance of avail- able β-lactoglobulin for S-S linking. plasmin / plasminogen / plasminogen activator / heat inactivation / milk
Ambiguous Performance of the RDP Support to Modernisation of Agriculture in the Czech Republic: Time to Consider New Options

This paper responds to the ongoing debate on the improvement of the investment support in the CAP after 2020. First, the analysis of the sector performance of the past investment supports is presented, followed by the farm level dynamic counterfactual analysis of policy results. Baseline and three alternative scenarios of distributions between income and investment support are presented as they were agreed and assessed by experts and stakeholders in two focus groups. Apart from the significant effect on the expansion of livestock production, the impacts of the modernization support (M121) on farm performance are ambiguous. Participants of the focus groups will prefer maintaining the income support at the current level while reducing the intervention stimulating farms investment activity arguing by easier adjustment of activities to the actual needs of the business.
Operating Voltage and Loss Analysis of a Bi-Directional Isolated DC/DC Converter

This paper describes the bi-directional isolated dc/dc converter shown in Fig. 1 having a high-frequency transformer with a unity turn ratio, where the input and output dc voltages are different from each other. Few technical papers have dealt with the dc/dc converter under different dc voltages. Besides, no technical paper has demonstrated the operation of the dc/dc converter rated around 10 kW under different dc voltages. However, voltage-adjusting capability may bring about a significant expansion of the application fields of the dc/dc converter. Thus, this paper analyzes the relationship between operating dc voltages, transfered power, and power loss to determine how different the two dc voltages can be from each other without excessively increasing power loss. Then, experiments are conducted on the dc/dc converter rated at 360 V, 10 kW, and 20 kHz, demonstrating bi-directional power flow under different dc voltages stably. The effect of the so-called “dead time” on the operating performance is also discussed in this paper. Fig. 2 shows the calculated relationship between transfered power PDC and the theoretical loss when one dc voltage is fixed at 320 V and the other is adjusted between 180 V and 360 V. Note that Fig. 2 assumes the power transfer PDC to be positive, and the theoretical loss consists of a snubber loss and an IGBT conducting loss excluding an IGBT switching loss and magnetic-component losses. The calculation was carried out under the condition where the snubber capacitor Csnub = 0.01 μF and the voltage drop across each IGBT and diode is 1.5 V regardless of the current. Difference between E1 and E2 narrows the range of transfered power where ZVS (zerovoltage switching) operation is possible, resulting in an increased snubber loss. The lower E2 becomes, the higher current is needed to transfer a given power, causing larger power loss than that at E1 = E2 = 320 V. Thermal limit of 212 W is drawn as a dashed line in Fig. 2 based on the theoretical loss at E1 = E2 = 320 V. When E1 = 320 V and E2 = 180 V, the theoretical loss reaches the thermal limit at PDC = 5.6 kW. The power loss or the thermal design of the dc/dc converter determines the possible range of power transfer and the difference between the two dc voltages. As is mentioned in this paper, the peak value of the current i1 also imposes limitation on the possible voltage difference. Despite the above-mentioned increased power loss, the operation under different dc voltages is useful and may expand the application field of the dc/dc converter. Experiments were conducted with E1 fixed to 320 V and E2 changed to be 320 V, 360 V, 260 V, and 180 V. Fig. 3 shows experimental waveforms of the dc/dc converter when a power of 5 kW is transfered from Bridge 2 to Bridge 1 (PDC = −5 kW) at E1 = 320 V and E2 = 180 V. The peak value of i1 was 60 A while its theoretical value was 66 A. Although Bridge 2 was operated in hard switching Fig. 1. A bi-directional isolated DC/DC converter
Sustainability and Triple Bottom-Line Performance in the Horticulture Supply Chains in Nairobi, Kenya

The purpose of this study is to establish the relationship between Sustainability and TBL Performance in Horticulture Sector in Kenya. The study adopts a descriptive research design. A census of all the 25 registered horticulture firms within Nairobi and its environs was conducted. The majority of horticulture firms in Nairobi and its environs have adopted the TBL dimensions to a large extent. The authors faced the challenge of lack of co-operation from the respondents either by failing to receive back the questionnaires or complete refusal to give the authors audience to present their case. The majority of the horticulture firms are fully aware of the benefits of adopting TBL dimensions and firms that have already embraced the three dimensions, have in mind of the relationship between sustainability and TBL performance.
Using video to trace the embodied and material in a study of health practice

Purpose – To explore the methodological implications of sociomaterial theory for qualitative research about practice. The purpose of this paper is to assess the potential and limitations of video stimulus to discussion about practice as embodied and material, and to theorise this in terms of epistemic objects. Design/methodology/approach – A video based on a residential child and family service in Sydney was used as a stimulus in six focus group discussions with researchers and professionals in child and family health. Three focus groups were held in Sweden, and three in the British Isles, settings where a similar approach to supporting families with young children is established. A sociomaterial perspective, drawing on Schatzki's practice theory and Knorr Cetina's notion of epistemic objects informed the design and methodologically focused analysis. Findings – The use of video is shown to be successful in facilitating and prompting participants to reflect and comment on practice as embodied and material.
Brezzi-Pitkaranta stabilization and a priori error analysis for the Stokes Control

In this study, we consider a Brezzi-Pitkaranta stabilization scheme for the optimal control problem governed by stationary Stokes equation, using a P1-P1 interpolation for velocity and pressure. We express the stabilization as extra terms added to the discrete variational form of the problem. We first prove the stability of the finite element discretization of the problem. Then, we derive a priori error bounds for each variable and present a numerical example to show the effectiveness of the stabilization clearly.
Using Deep Neural Network to Analyze Travel Mode Choice With Interpretable Economic Information: An Empirical Example

Deep neural network (DNN) has been increasingly applied to microscopic demand analysis. While DNN often outperforms traditional multinomial logit (MNL) model, it is unclear whether we can obtain interpretable economic information from DNN-based choice model beyond prediction accuracy. This paper provides an empirical method of numerically extracting valuable economic information such as choice probability, probability derivatives (or elasticities), and marginal rates of substitution. Using a survey collected in Singapore, we find that when the economic information is aggregated over population or models, DNN models can reveal roughly S-shaped choice probability curves, inverse bell-shaped driving probability derivatives regarding costs and time, and reasonable median value of time (VOT). However at the disaggregate level, choice probability curves of DNN models can be non-monotonically decreasing with costs and highly sensitive to the particular estimation; derivatives of choice probabilities regarding costs and time can be positive at some region; VOT can be infinite, undefined, zero, or arbitrarily large. Some of these patterns can be seen as counter-intuitive, while others can potentially be regarded as advantages of DNN for its flexibility to reflect certain behavior peculiarities. These patterns broadly relate to two theoretical challenges of DNN, irregularity of its probability space and large estimation errors. Overall, this study provides a practical guidance of using DNN for demand analysis with two suggestions: First, researchers can use numerical methods to obtain behaviorally intuitive choice probabilities, probability derivatives, and reasonable VOT. Second, given the large estimation errors and irregularity of the probability space of DNN, researchers should always ensemble either over population or individual models to obtain stable economic information.
Bastow crust and upper mantle review of passive-source seismic studies of the African Towards a better understanding of African topography : a service Email alerting

Explaining the cause and support of Africa’s varied topography remains a fundamental question for our understanding of the long-term evolution of the continent. As geodynamical modelling becomes more frequently used to investigate this problem, it is important to understand the seismological results that can be incorporated into these models. Crustal thickness estimates are crucial for calculating components of topography that are isostatically compensated. Variations in seismic velocity help constrain variations in subsurface temperature and density and thus buoyancy; measurements of anisotropy can also be used to determine the contribution of the mantle flow field to dynamic topography. In this light, we review the results of passive seismic studies across Africa. At the continental scale there are significant differences in crustal models, meaning large uncertainties in corrections for isostatic topography. In east Africa, multiple seismic experiments have provided firm constraints on crustal and mantle structure. Tomographic images illuminate a broad (c. 500 km wide) low-velocity region in the upper mantle, with possible connection to the African Superplume in the lower mantle. These observations, alongside the variations in radial anisotropy, strongly suggest that the mantle flow field contributes significantly to the uplift of the region. Beneath southern Africa, low velocities are observed near the base of the continental lithosphere; the depth to transition zone discontinuities however suggests that they are not linked to the superplume beneath. It is thus less clear what role the sublithospheric mantle plays in supporting the region’s high topography. Many of Africa’s secondary topographic features (e.g. Atlas, Hoggar, Bie Dome) are underlain by slow velocities at depths of 100–150 km and are adjacent to rapid changes in lithospheric thickness. Whether these variations in lithospheric structure promote small-scale convection or simply guide the larger-scale mantle flow field
A new high-precision and low-power GNSS receiver for long-term installations in remote areas

Abstract. We have developed a new high-precision GNSS receiver specifically designed for long-term unattended deployments in remote areas. The receiver reports its status, and can be reprogrammed remotely, through an integrated satellite data link. It uses less power than commercially available alternatives while being equally, if not more, accurate. Data are saved locally on dual SD card slots for increased reliability. Deployments of a number of those receivers in several different locations on the Antarctic ice sheet have shown them to be robust and able to operate flawlessly at low temperatures down to −40 °C.
Transaction Costs and Organizational Competences: Explaining the Governance Structure for Manufacturing Stage

This article deals with the influence of transaction costs and organizational competences on the choice of governance structure for manufacturing stage in a productive system. The objective is to develop a conceptual model that explains the choice of supplier for manufacturing through transaction costs and organizational competences. Following earlier studies, the model proposes competences of the product´s owner influence the vertical scope in a relation moderated by transaction costs. The constructs in the model are: "governance structure", the dependent variable categorized as internal or external supplier, "transaction costs", measured by asset specificity of the product and bargain power of the firm in the manufacturing stage, and "competences on operations”, measured by experience and diversification of the firm. The study presents some methodological implications for applying the model in Brazilian pharmaceutical industry, through searching for secondary data on drugs and firms in a public database of the federal regulatory agency.
Measures and metrics for automatic emotion classification via FACET

For dynamic emotions to be modelled in a natural and convincing way, systems must rely on accurate affective analysis of facial expressions in the first place. The present work introduces two measures for evaluating automatic emotion classification performance. It further provides a systematic comparison between 14 databases of dynamic expressions. Machine analysis was conducted using the FACET system, with an algorithm calculating recognition sensitivity and confidence. Results revealed the proportion of facial stimuli that could be recognised by the machine algorithm above threshold evidence, showing significant differences in recognition performance between the databases.
MtDNA variation within local human populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Being a crossroad of many ancient and recent historical migrations, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) represents unique spot of multicultural and social diversity. The main aim of this study was to assess genetic structure of three local populations of mountain area from central part of B&H using mtDNA HVS-1 as an informative marker for population genetics studies. A 444 bp HVS-1 segment of control region of mtDNA extracted from buccal swabs was PCR amplified and sequenced. Haplotype and nucleotide diversity, average number of nucleotide differences, AMOVA and pairwise FST based on mtDNA haplotype and haplogroup frequencies were calculated. NJ tree was constructed based on pairwise FST results. Tajima’s D was calculated to evaluate population demographic status.