Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Climatic Disequilibrium Threatens Conservation Priority Forests

We test the hypothesis that climatic changes since 1800 have resulted in unrealized potential vegetation changes that represent a “climatic debt” for many ecosystems. Caledonian pinewoods, an EU priority forest type, are used as a model system to explore potential impacts of two centuries of climatic change upon sites of conservation importance and surrounding landscapes. Using methods that estimate topographic microclimate, current and preindustrial climates were estimated for 50 m grid cells and simulations made using a dynamic vegetation model. Core Caledonian pinewood areas are now less suitable for growth of pine and more favorable for oak than in 1800, whereas landscapes as a whole are on average more favorable for both. The most favorable areas for pine are now mainly outside areas designated to conserve historical pinewoods. A paradigm shift is needed in formulating conservation strategies to avoid catastrophic losses of this habitat, and of many others globally with trees or other long‐lived perennials as keystone species.
An Investigation of the Macroeconomic Factors Affecting the Indian Stock Market

The economic growth of India has positioned it as one of the rapidly growing economies the world over and it is expected to be one of the top three economies globally over the next decade. Contrary to a slowdown in the earnings of Indian corporates due to excess existing capacity and the inability of banks to lend, the stock market ie Bombay Stock Exchange has performed well. The objective of the present research is to investigate the link that exists, if any, between BSE Sensex and macroeconomic variables such as Index of Industrial Production (IIP), inflation, the rate of interest, the price of gold, rate of exchange, FII and supply of money for the period April 1999-March 2017. The study also seeks to determine the strength of the link between the independent parameters and the dependent parameter ie BSE Sensex in the short run and long run based on the test of Johansen Cointegration, Granger Causality, and the Vector Error Correction mechanism. The analysis through the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) confirms that there exists a long-run causality between the macroeconomic variables of Index of Industrial Production (IIP), inflation, interest rates, gold prices, exchange rate, foreign institutional investment, money supply and BSE Sensex. It establishes that there does exist a short run causality between Inflation and BSE Sensex and Money Supply and BSE Sensex. The results importantly show that BSE Sensex causes changes in the exchange rate and money supply, FII, gold prices and IIP.
How accurate are individual forecasters? : an assessment of the Survey of Professional Forecasters

This paper addresses the forecast accuracy of individual inflation forecasts from the Survey of Professional Forecasters. Based on a variety of accuracy statistics, there are five main findings to report of. First, I find that some individuals are able to accurately predict inflation over time, and that forecasters on average have improved their accuracy over time. Second, forecasting accuracy becomes worse during recessions compared to the average accuracy in the respective decades but accuracy have improved in newer recessions compared to old ones. Nonetheless, some individuals are able to outperform the mean forecast and a forecast made from a random walk model. Third, I find no difference in accuracy among industries but I find evidence for biased forecasts for the three and four quarter horizon. Fourth, I find evidence for bias in roughly one-third of the individuals for all forecasting horizons. These results improve slightly when only data from the last two decades are being analysed. Fifth, the majority of individuals perform significantly worse than a random walk model regardless of used time span. I also find several problems with the database, including: missing values for the one-year-ahead forecast, irregularities in forecasters’ response, reallocation of used ID’s, changing base year and inconsistencies in individuals’ forecasts. 1 This paper was written as a part of the Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration at NHH. Neither the institution, the advisor, nor the sensors are through the approval of this thesis responsible for neither the theories and methods used, nor the results and conclusions drawn in this work. SNF Working Paper No 51/12
The Effect of Integrated Metrology on Litho Performance

The semiconductor industry is a capital-intensive and highly competitive industry. To remain profitable and competitive semiconductor manufacturers have to make innovations in their fabrication process allyear round. This is especially important in the lithographic process step, which is the bottleneck step in chip fabrication. One of the future innovations is the integration of metrology tools into the lithographic processes, concentrated in the lithocell, in stead of doing offline measurements. The industry thinks that integrated metrology (IM) contributes to an earlier detection of process excursions. When a process excursion occurs, all processed wafers will be non-qualified until it is detected and corrected.
Aerodynamic Analysis of Helicopter Rotor by Using a Time-Domain Panel Method

Computational methods based on the solution of the flow model are widely used for the analysis of low-speed, inviscid, attached-flow problems. Most of such methods are based on the implementation of the internal Dirichlet boundary condition. In this paper, the time-domain panel method uses the piecewise constant source and doublet singularities. The present method utilizes the time-stepping loop to simulate the unsteady motion of the rotary wing blade. The wake geometry is calculated as part of the solution with no special treatment. To validate the results of aerodynamic characteristics, the typical blade was chosen such as, Caradonna-Tung blade and present results were compared with the experimental data and the other numerical results in the single blade condition and two blade condition. This isolated rotor blade model consisted of a two bladed rotor with untwisted, rectangular planform blade. Computed flow-field solutions were presented for various section of the blade in the hovering mode.
Towards A Data Centric System Architecture: SHARP

Increased system size and a greater reliance on utilizing system parallelism to achieve computational needs, requires innovative system architectures to meet the simulation challenges. The SHARP technology is a step towards a data-centric architecture, where data is manipulated throughout the system. This paper introduces a new SHARP optimization, and studies aspects that impact application performance in a data-centric environment. The use of UD-Multicast to distribute aggregation results is introduced, reducing the latency of an eight-byte MPI Allreduce() across 128 nodes by 16%. Use of reduction trees that avoid the inter-socket bus further improves the eight-byte MPI Allreduce() latency across 128 nodes, with 28 processes per node, by 18%. The distribution of latency across processes in the communicator is studied, as is the capacity of the system to process concurrent aggregation operations.
Embryos and Lateral Buds Culture of Tapeinochilos Ananassae (Hassk). K. Schum.

Zygotic embryos and lateral buds of Tapeinochilos ananassae were inoculated into full or half-strength MS medium (½ MS) containing three antioxidants: ascorbic acid, activated charcoal, and PVP at concentrations of 0.25; 3.0 and 0.5 g.L -1 respectively. The ½ MS medium supplemented with 3.0 g.L -1 activated charcoal resulted in the best embryo establishment and plant development. The lateral buds showed no significant development, an intense phenolic oxidation and high microbial contamination (mainly bacterial). Enzymatic analysis of oxidized lateral buds showed a decline in peroxidase activity and an increase in polyphenoloxidase activity.
Second Order Sliding Mode Control of the Coupled Tanks System

Four classes of second order sliding mode controllers (2-SMC) have been successfully applied to regulate the liquid level in the second tank of a coupled tanks system. The robustness of these classes of 2-SMC is investigated and their performances are compared with a first order controller to show the merits of these controllers. The effectiveness of these controllers is verified through computer simulations. Comparison between the controllers is based on the time domain performance measures such as rise time, settling time, and the integral absolute error. Results showed that controllers are able to regulate the liquid level with small differences in their performance.
Calculation of axially symmetric cavities and jets.

l Introduction* We shall study in this paper steady, axially symmetric, irrotational flows of an incompressible liquid. We shall be interested in motions that exhibit a free surface along which the liquid is bounded by a gas whose inertia is negligible relative to that of the liquid, so that the gas can be assumed to be at rest and to have constant pressure. The determination of flows of this type is a mathematical problem of exceptional difficulty because the shape of the free surface is not known and must be calculated as part of the solution. In the case of axial symmetry, no systematic method has as yet been developed for finding free surface flows past prescribed obstacles, although a few calculations, notably those by Trefftz [17] and by Southwell and Vaisey [16], have been executed on a basis of inspired guesswork. The chief drawback of the work done by these investigators is that their successive approximations to the shape of the free surface are obtained by trial and error and are slow to converge. Our hope in the present article is to present techniques for the systematic calculation of free surface flows, with emphasis on the axially symmetric case. Recent advances [3, 4, 5, 6, Ί, 18] in the mathematical theory of cavitational flow form the basis for our method. Although rigorous proof of the convergence of the series expansion and of the iterative scheme which we shall use appears to be too difficult to undertake at this time, nevertheless sound theoretical reasons are given for expecting the procedures to converge. This is in contrast with other schemes that the author has seen suggested, such as the interation process for the Trefftz integral equation, which theory would predict to diverge for more or less the same reason that the classical Neumann series for solution of the Dirichlet problem diverges, namely, because the lowest relevant eigenvalue does not exceed 1. The difference here between our approach and the earlier ones is analogous to the difference between solving an equation x=f(x) by Newton's method, for which we expect rapid convergence, and solving the same equation by successive approximations of the type Xn+i=f(%n), which will diverge if the derivative of the function f(x) exceeds 1. The significant disagreement that will be found between our numerical results and the earlier work in the field can be attributed partly to this failure of convergence and partly to the insensitive nature of the guesswork involved in the other methods.
Supply chain relationships, supplier support programmes and stimulating investment: evidence from the Armenian dairy sector

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the determinants of supply chain relationships, the provision of supplier support measures and the role that support measures play in stimulating investment by suppliers in emerging economies. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on survey evidence for 300 commercial dairy farms in Armenia. The identification of potential determinants of supply chain relationships and support programmes is based on literature on supply chain management and transaction cost economics. Findings – Positive determinants of supplier support programmes are the degree of exclusivity of the buyer-supplier relationship, initial capital of the supplier, co-operation between suppliers, and foreign ownership of the buyer. Support programmes are less likely to be offered in very competitive environments. Support measures such as loans, physical inputs and guaranteed prices facilitate supplier investments. Research limitations/implications – Research is limited to cross-sectio.
Re-conceptualizing disability and assistive technology: Australian consumers driving policy change

For people living with a disability, enablers such as assistive technologies, environmental modifications and personal care can make the difference between living fully and merely existing. This article is written from the standpoints of people with disabilities and professionals in one Australian State who found their government and service system to be a constraining rather than an enabling force. It presents two key components of policy and practice change in the area of assistive technology: challenging understandings of disability, assistive technology, and the desired life outcomes that assistive technology contributes to; and building a public evidence base through consumer-focussed research. In short, government funding of assistive technology needs to move beyond a limited focus on functional needs and take responsibility for fully equipping people to live the lives they aspire to.
Powering telecommunications network interfaces using photovoltaic cells and supercapacitors

New and emerging telecommunications access networks may require network termination units (NTUs) to be back-up powered, especially for telephony service provision. The multiplicity of NTUs, located at or near customers' premises, dictates the need for both low capital and operational costs. Powering an NTU with photovoltaic cells and supercapacitors is expected to achieve a low life-cycle cost. This paper introduces the requirements for NTU powering, then develops photovoltaic cell and supercapacitor component models and investigates their application to powering an NTU.
Comparison of two techniques to survey macropod abundance in an ecologically sensitive habitat.

THERE are many techniques available to measure the abundance of animal populations (e.g., Caughley 1977; Caughley and Grigg 1981; Southwell 1989; McCallum 2000; Buckland et al. 2001). A key point emphasised by each of these authors is that when choosing the most appropriate method(s) for measuring the abundance of animal populations, the manager or researcher must consider the ecological question(s) being asked. This in turn will determine what technique(s) will be most appropriate, what data are likely to be collected for analysis, and how these data will address the ecological question being asked. For the larger macropods, particularly Macropus spp. , many of the techniques used to measure the abundance, and associated issues, have been reviewed (see Southwell 1989). Despite this, the applicability of these techniques has rarely been compared, particularly with respect to the observed variability in temporal counts.
Implementing of RCPs scenarios to estimate the population density of parlatoria date scale insect, Parlatoria blanchardii (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) infesting date palm trees in Luxor Governorate, Egypt

The present work was carried out to study the effect of some climatic factors on the population density of the white date palm scale insect, Parlatoria blanchardii on date palm trees during three time series (2011-2040, 2041-2070 and 2071-2100) under four Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios (2.6, 4.5, 6.0 and 8.5) as compared with the current population of the pest (average of population density from 2009 to 2013 years) at Esna district, Luxor Governorate, Egypt. Results showed that monthly observations of total population of P. blanchardii had three to four peaks of seasonal activity per year. The mean minimum temperature was the most effective variable in population changes by 18.9, 20.9 and 19.9% for nymphs, adult females and total population of P. blanchardii during the base year data, respectively. The obtained results revealed the all expected values for number of nymphs, adult females and total population of insect during the all different time series under all different RCPs scenarios were smaller in comparison to the current population of insect. Expected total population of insect will be smaller at time series of (2071-2100) as compared with the two time series of (2041-2070) and (2011-2040) under the scenarios of (RCP 4.5, RCP 6 and RCP 8.5). Also, the time series of (2071-2100) exhibited the highest percentage of decreasing of the number of nymphs, adult females and total population with an average of (25.84, 23.76 and 24.91%) as compared to the time series of 2040-2071 (24.68, 22.44 and 23.68%) and the time series of 2011-2040 (10.43, 10.17 and 10.31%), respectively. Furthermore, the RCP 8.5 scenario exhibit the highest population density of nymphs, adult females and total population P. blanchardii and the lowest decreasing percentage of population density of P. blanchardii as compared with the different RCPs during all different time series.
On the Beta Prime Prior for Scale Parameters in High-Dimensional Bayesian Regression Models

We study high-dimensional Bayesian linear regression with a general beta prime distribution for the scale parameter. Under the assumption of sparsity, we show that appropriate selection of the hyperparameters in the beta prime prior leads to the (near) minimax posterior contraction rate when $p \gg n$. For finite samples, we propose a data-adaptive method for estimating the hyperparameters based on marginal maximum likelihood (MML). This enables our prior to adapt to both sparse and dense settings, and under our proposed empirical Bayes procedure, the MML estimates are never at risk of collapsing to zero. We derive efficient Monte Carlo EM and variational EM algorithms for implementing our model, which are available in the R package NormalBetaPrime. Simulations and analysis of a gene expression data set illustrate our model's self-adaptivity to varying levels of sparsity and signal strengths.
Validating the Clinical Assessment of Prosocial Emotions (CAPE 1.1) with children and adolescents with conduct problems.

Many children and adolescents with conduct disorder (CD) also display high levels of callous unemotional (CU) traits. This severe and difficult to treat subgroup of children warrant a new specifier for CD named with limited prosocial emotions (LPE), as designated in the more recent revision of the DSM-5. A valid sample to measure LPE is needed, as conventional measures for CD and CU are not sufficient. The Clinical Assessment of Prosocial Emotions (CAPE 1.1; Frick, 2013) is a multi-source, multi-informant tool administered by a trained clinician aimed to detect the LPE specifier of CD. This study aimed to assess construct, convergent and concurrent validity of the CAPE in a clinically relevant, at-risk sample of 28 children and adolescents aged 6 – 18 years old from a family intervention project (FIP) based in Stockton Council capture areas in the North East of England. The CAPE had good construct validity as it successfully mentioned CU traits. The CAPEs relationship with other child psychopathic traits was convergent but equivocal, highlighting the need for further exploration into LPE and the on terminology often used within these remits. Despite having no diagnostic tool for CD, the CAPE was also concurrently related to conduct problems when the CAPE was used as a continuous measure but not dichotomous. A critical analysis of the CAPE regarding its design and administration process is included.
Competition and Coexistence in a Simple Tropical Community

Nectarivorous mites of the genus Rhinoseius breed and feed in hummingbird-pollinated flowers and are dispersed in the nasal cavities of hummingbirds. An analysis is presented of the evolutionary and ecological interactions among 10 species in a Costa Rican highland community: two Rhinoseius species, three hummingbirds, a coerebid bird, and four hummingbird-pollinated plants. Coexistence of two territorial hummingbirds at the study site is allowed by migration, sequential specialization on seasonal resources, and behavioral interactions. The third hummingbird is an interstitial species dependent on a variety of widely dispersed food plants. The coerebid bird, a nectar thief, feeds within hummingbird territories on relatively indefensible flowers. Coexistence of the two mite species, capable of lethal combat, depends upon the grain structure of their environment, which is determined by hummingbird feeding patterns. This is demonstrated by a probabilistic model based on field data. Tropical environments favor sequential specialists, interstitial species, grain specialists, and hypercontingent species. These adaptive strategies probably account in part for high tropical species diversity.
Digital Measurement of the Human Pupil's Dynamics under Light Stimulation for Medical Applications and Research

The human body can be affected for different kinds of diseases. A disease is always associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by factors that can co me fro m an external source or by internal dysfunctions. The pupil changes of diameter and shape, as well as the pupil reaction to light and darkness are factors that become an important way to know and understand different diseases and how they affect the human body. In this work we propose an optoelectronic device that measures the pupil changes due to external light stimu lations. A video camera is placed to record the pupil changes of diameter wh ile this is stimulated by light pulses on red, green, blue and white. The pupil is placed in an initial diameter by means of a dark cabin, this will allow the measures to be more precisely, and then it is stimu lated by the wavelength above mentioned. The results are shown in a graphic interface (software) designed for this development where, also, the pupil changes are shown in real time.
FDTD-SPICE analysis of high-speed cells in silicon integrated circuits

Introduces FDTD-SPICE to the problem of silicon integrated circuit (IC) analysis. The analyzed IC cell is decomposed into active and passive parts. The active part is analyzed using the circuit analysis approach of SPICE while the larger passive on-chip interconnect part is analyzed using the full wave finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The two methods are coupled in the time domain at the connecting ports. All of the modes propagating on the metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) interconnect are taken into account accurately. The advantages of both the circuit and the full wave analysis approaches are retained while avoiding inaccuracies associated with the use of transforms or inverse transforms. The analysis procedure is illustrated on a few small IC cell layout examples.
Sparse model selection in the highly under-sampled regime

We propose a method for recovering the structure of a sparse undirected graphical model when very few samples are available. The method decides about the presence or absence of bonds between pairs of variable by considering one pair at a time and using a closed form formula, analytically derived by calculating the posterior probability for every possible model explaining a two body system using Jeffreys prior. The approach does not rely on the optimization of any cost functions and consequently is much faster than existing algorithms. Despite this time and computational advantage, numerical results show that for several sparse topologies the algorithm is comparable to the best existing algorithms, and is more accurate in the presence of hidden variables. We apply this approach to the analysis of US stock market data and to neural data, in order to show its efficiency in recovering robust statistical dependencies in real data with non-stationary correlations in time and/or space.