Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender Determination in the Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus ) Using Morphometrics and Discriminant Analysis

ABSTRACT When adult, the gender of Western Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus) is determined on the basis of the presence of gray feathers on the wing and on the tail in the males. However, males of this species in southwestern France have female-like plumages, lacking gray feathers, and thus, gender determination is impossible by using coloration alone. We investigated sex determination using biometric parameters in a study site located in southwestern France. From one to six measurements (body mass, bill length, wing chord length, tarsus length and width, and tail length) were taken from 243 marsh harriers of known gender (156 males and 87 females), marked in the study site, and subsequently re-sighted. Additionally, 30 marsh harrier specimens were measured by two observers to establish within and between observer repeatability values, as well as within bird repeatability for the six biometric parameters. Using quadratic discriminant analysis, we showed that it was possible to sex individuals of this species with >99% accuracy on the basis of only two parameters: bill length and body mass. Actually, using bill length alone provides very good indication of gender (accuracy >96%). These two parameters are also those for which observer and within-bird repeatability values were highest. When we applied the discriminant equation to 648 fledged birds that have been captured so far, the adult sex ratio (percent of males) was 49.1, which did not depart from parity.
A comparison of minimum norm and MUSIC for a combined MEG/EEG sensor array

Abstract. Many different algorithms for imaging neuronal activity with magnetoencephalography (MEG) or electroencephalography (EEG) have been developed so far. We validate the result of other authors that a combined MEG/EEG sensor array provides smaller source localisation errors than a single MEG or single EEG sensor array for the same total number of sensors. We show that Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) provides smaller localisation errors than an unweighted minimum norm method for activity located in the cortical sulcus regions. This is important for many medical applications, e.g. the localisation of the origin of epileptic seizures (focal epilepsy) that can be located very deep in the cortical sulcus.
Lichen-Spruce Woodland Early Indicators of Ecological Resilience Following Silvicultural Disturbances in Québec's Closed-Crown Forest Zone

Lichen woodlands (LW) located in the closed-crown boreal forest are not a successional stage moving towards a closed black spruce feathermoss stand (FM), but an alternative stable state, due to their previous forest history, and the occurrence of LWs located nearby closed-crown FM stands. Therefore, afforestation in those LWs through site preparation and plantation could shift back LW into FM stands. We implemented an experimental design with different combinations of silvicultural treatments in both site types (LW, FM). We monitored the evolution of plant diversity and the physiology of three bio-indicators (Picea mariana, Kalmia angustifolia, Rhododendron groenlandicum) in different microsites created by the silvicultural treatments. The return to the initial composition was noticed only two years after treatments, especially in the LW stands, thus indicating a higher level of early ecosystem resilience in LWs compared to FM stands. Mean species cover, especially in the FM stands, decreased the most in the skid trails created by logging, probably due to a lack of acclimation of bryophytes to open stand conditions. Conversely, ericaceous shrubs and lichens found in the LWs were already acclimated to open stand conditions, which give to LWs a restructuring advantage compared to FM plant communities after silvicultural treatments. Overall, FM and LW short-term resilience was similar, indicating equally efficient ecosystem reorganization in both stands. The comparable early resilience in managed LW and FM stands, in terms of plant biodiversity, contradicts the presumed fragility of LW stands, especially in this case where LWs are assumed to be an alternative stable state created by compound disturbances. Silvicultural treatments maintained the functional group diversity in LWs, a key element for ecosystem resilience. Therefore, this study support the idea that plantation following site preparation in LWs could be a valuable management strategy to reach several objectives, such as increasing forest carbon sinks.
Studying the Relationship between Information Technology and Organizational Entrepreneurship in the General Office of Tax Issues

The current research aims at investigating the relationship between information technology and organizational entrepreneurship in the general office of tax issues in Golestan province. The research is descriptive, correlative, and also is a survey. After studying the related literature, factors and components influencing on information technology and organizational entrepreneurship in the general office of tax issues in Golestan province were extracted. Then, through using a researcher-made questionnaire and the standard questionnaire of Loidas and Wasilis dealing with organizational entrepreneurship, component extracted from theoretical issues were provided. Statistical population contains all staff of the general office of tax issues in Gorgan (Golstan province). Statistical sample includes 108 entrepreneurs of Golestan province, and its volume has been determined by Kerjsi-Morgan. Examinations at the level of 95 confidence degree: 1. There is a significant relationship between decreasing bureaucracy and information technology in the general office of tax issues in Golestan province. 2. There is a significant relationship between staff’s behavior change and information technology in the general office of tax issues in Golestan province. 3. There is a significant relationship between staff’s strategic insight and information technology in the general office of tax issues in Golestan province. 4. There is a significant relationship between providing an energetic working environment and information technology in the general office of tax issues in Golestan province. 5. There is a significant relationship between staff’s supportive environment and information technology in the general office of tax issues in Golestan province.
Impact of Employee-Organization Congruence on Job Satisfaction and Job Performance among Factory Employees in the Sri Lankan Large Apparel Sector

In the field of human resource management, the previous researchers emphasized the employee-organization congruence (EOC) had a significant relationship with the job performance of employees in various sectors. However slight attention has been paid to conceptual constructs such as job satisfaction as a mediator between the EOC and job performance. Thus, this paper attempts to fill this gap by empirically examining the impact of EOC on job satisfaction and job performance among factory employees in 17 large apparel firms in Sri Lanka. A total of 384 self-administered questionnaires were distributed among respondents and 328 usable questionnaires were returned, yielding a response rate of 85%. The data was analyzed by using descriptive analysis and structural equation methods (SEM). The study discloses that EOC has significant positive relationships with job performance. Further, job satisfaction mediates the relationship between EOC and job performance. Therefore, the study findings suggest that the better EOC in the large apparel sector not only leads to better performance but also linked to satisfaction of factory employees. Keywords: Employee-Organization Congruence, Job Performance, Job Satisfaction, Sri Lankan Apparel Sector, Structural Equation Methods
The Relationship Between E-WOM from SNS or Internet and Purchase

The main proposal of this chapter is to analyze the influence of eWOM and Internet referrals across different product types, including gender as a moderator variable. In addition, some sub-objectives that drive to the main one are the following: 1) to analyze how important are the recommendations for the buying process, in the Internet and in SNS; 2) to study the gender effect on the importance of recommendations for the buying process; and 3) to examine the role of product types in the relationship between eWOM and purchase. Results pointed out that, in general, consumers prefer recommendations collected from the Internet to those picked up from their friends in SNS, but gender moderates the importance of SNS and Internet recommendations. In addition, the percentage of online purchase is significantly higher for men than for women.
A genatic algorithm how to solve a puzzle and its using in cartography

Abstract: Genetic algorithms represent an up-to-date method o f process optimization, where other solutions have failed or haven’t given any satisfactory results. One of these processes is puzzle solving, where fragments have t o be placed into the defined shape in such a way so that no fragment should mutually over lay and the whole shape area will be filled with all of these fragments. A genetic algor ithm solving this task including an exact formulation and a definition of the initial conditi ons based on cluster analysis has been described in this paper. The algorithm efficiency w ill be tested in diploma works in Institute of Geodesy, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Unive rsity of Technology, Brno. The results will be used in the application for cartogram s creation.
Interactions between shorebirds and benthic invertebrates at Culbin Sands lagoon, NE Scotland: Effects of avian predation on their prey community density and structure

In the North Sea, during autumn-winter, intertidal flats often receive a massive influx of migratory shorebirds (wildfowl, waders and seabirds), which utilise the high prey densities that are available. The present study was conducted at Culbin Sands lagoon, NE Scotland, in 1994-1996, to investigate benthic invertebrate standing stock, and the energy flow from benthic invertebrates to shorebirds. Benthic invertebrate standing stock was estimated to be 500 kJ m -2 yr -1 , and shorebird consumption efficiency to be 18% of the available standing stock. A series of manipulative field experiments were then conducted to test the effects of shorebirds on benthic invertebrate densities and community structure. Birds were excluded from caged areas (exclosures), and benthic invertebrate densities (total and by class size) in caged and uncaged areas were compared for each season separately. During autumn-winter, especially the gastropod Hydrobia ulvae and larger-sized (>15 mm) clams Macoma balthica were observed to be the most impacted species, being significantly more abundant in bird-exclosures than in bird-accessed areas.
Estrogen Concentrations in Dairy and Swine Waste Storage and Treatment Structures in and around Tennessee

Naturally occurring estrogens in animal wastes may cause negative environmental impacts in some watersheds. However, there is little published data regarding the concentrations of these estrogenic compounds in full-scale animal waste treatment and storage structures, thus making risk assessment difficult. To address this knowledge gap, the research described in this paper explores estrogen concentrations in 19 animal waste storage and treatment structures at dairy and swine production facilities in and around Tennessee. Samples have been collected from eight dairy and eleven swine facilities, representing a range of waste storage and treatment structures typical of Tennessee, and much of the southeastern US. The 17 â-estradiol concentrations in all samples have been assayed in triplicate serial dilutions by means of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), all samples have, or will be, assayed for conventional manure constituents, including total solids, volatile solids, ash, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus, potassium, and chemical oxygen demand. Concentrations of 17 a-estradiol, 17 â-estradiol, and estrone are being assayed by gas-chromatography mass-spectroscopy (GC-MS), and total estrogenicity is periodically checked with a recombinant yeast reporter assay. At the time of this writing, the GC-MS dataset was incomplete, so that this paper is focused on the 17 â-estradiol ELISA data. Several tentative conclusions can be drawn from the preliminary data presented here, as follow: (1) 17 â-estradiol concentrations are highest in swine finishing hoop structure solids and swine farrowing pit slurry, with concentrations in excess of 20,000 ppt (parts per trillion) observed in both systems. Average 17 â-estradiol concentrations in swine farrowing and finishing lagoons were less than 4000 ppt. A similar trend was seen in dairy systems, where 17 â-estradiol concentrations in dry stacks averaged 10,000 ppt, while concentrations in lagoons and holding ponds were below 2000 ppt. (2) The mass-ratio of 17 â-estradiol to TKN followed a different trend than did the raw 17 â-estradiol concentrations. For example, swine farrowing lagoons had the greatest ratio (ca. 25 ppm), while swine fishing hoop structure solids and swine farrowing pit slurries had ratios four times smaller. We believe that the mass-ratio of 17 â-estradiol to application-rate-limiting macronutrients is a better predictor of the estrogen emission risk than is the raw 17 â-estradiol concentration in the waste. (3) There is spatial heterogeneity in 17 â-estradiol distribution within most structures studied. In 9 of the 11 liquid systems studied, a positive correlation was observed between 17 â-estradiol and depth; in dry-stack dairy systems, older parts of the stack had lower 17 â-estradiol concentrations than did newer parts of the stack.
Resistor Network Analogy of Non-obtuse Finite Element Model for Electrical Impedance Tomography

This paper introduces resistor network analogy of Finite Element Modelling (FEM). The nonlinear iterative algorithms for image reconstruction in Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) involve computation with large matrices resulting from FEM. Consequently, it is difficult to realise real-time solutions. By recognising that a non-obtuse finite element model can be considered to be equivalent to a resistor network, the proposed technique employs matrices of resistors that emulate the elements of a conventional mesh. Software simulations explore the accuracy in the forward solution for Electrical Impedance Tomography application. Results of simulation suggest that forward problem can be solved efficiently using iterative methods with reduced tolerance.
Testing for Complementarities between Team, Incentives, Training and Knowledge Management: Evidence from France

This paper examines theknowledge creation, sharing and transferring process within manufacturing …rms in an innovation perspective. Using French data set, we study complementari- ties between speci…c human resource management practices (HRMP) and knowledge management. We focus on four speci…c practices : team, incentives, training and knowledge management. We use a new testing procedure for complementarity and substitutability in case there are multiple organizational practices that aect innovative performance. This procedure is based on multiple inequality restriction. The result supports the notion that knowledge management is more eective if accompanied by team organization and associated incentives. It pleads in favour of the impor- tant interrelations and couplings between speci…c HRMP and knowledge management to enhance innovation performance.
Impact of Nanostructure Configuration on the Photovoltaic Performance of Quantum-Dot Arrays

In this work, a mesoscopic model based on the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism for a tight-binding-like effective Hamiltonian is used to investigate a selectively contacted quantum dot array designed for operation as a single junction quantum dot solar cell. By establishing a direct relation between nanostructure configuration and optoelectronic properties, the investigation reveals the influence of inter-dot and dot-contact coupling strengths on the rates of charge carrier photogeneration, radiative recombination, and extraction at contacts, and consequently on the ultimate performance of photovoltaic devices with finite quantum dot arrays as the active medium. For long carrier lifetimes, the dominant configuration effects originate in the dependence of the joint density of states on the inter-dot coupling in terms of band width and effective band gap. In the low carrier lifetime regime, where recombination competes with carrier extraction, the extraction efficiency shows a critical dependence on the dot-contact coupling.
A Study on Quality of Service requirements in MANET especially focusing efficient routing procedures

— To achieve QoS, independently of the routing protocol, each mobile node participating in the network must implement traffic conditioning, traffic marking and buffer management (Random Early Drop with in-out dropping) or queue scheduling (Priority Queuing) schemes. MANET routing protocols can be table-driven or on demand, proactive versus reactive, symmetric versus asymmetric, and unicast versus multicast. It is observed by detailed performance comparison between DSR and AODV that the relative merits of the aggressive use of source routing and caching in DSR, and the more conservative routing table and sequence number driven approach in AODV. AODV outperforms DSR, in terms of throughput and end-to-end delay in more "stressful" situations (higher mobility and higher traffic load). On the other hand, DSR outperforms AODV for low loads (less sources) with small (less than 20) number of nodes. There are two known approaches that utilize routing protocols in order to provide QoS in MANETs. The first one tries to embed end-to-end minimum QoS guarantees (delay, bandwidth) in the computation of the routing algorithm. The routing protocol will request for a connection with a minimum required bandwidth and find the optimum route that can best satisfy that requirement. Core-Extraction Distributed Ad-Hoc Routing (CEDAR) is an example of use of this approach. The second approach is an extension to AODV that takes routing into account to satisfy QoS requirements.
Intercomparison of stratospheric temperature profiles from a ground-based microwave radiometer with other techniques

Abstract. In this work the stratospheric performance of a relatively new microwave temperature radiometer (TEMPERA) has been evaluated. With this goal in mind, almost 3 years of temperature measurements (January 2014–September 2016) from the TEMPERA radiometer were intercompared with simultaneous measurements from other techniques: radiosondes, MLS satellite and Rayleigh lidar. This intercomparison campaign was carried out at the aerological station of MeteoSwiss at Payerne (Switzerland). In addition, the temperature profiles from TEMPERA were used to validate the temperature outputs from the SD-WACCM model. The results showed in general a very good agreement between TEMPERA and the different instruments and the model, with a high correlation (higher than 0.9) in the temperature evolution at different altitudes between TEMPERA and the different data sets. An annual pattern was observed in the stratospheric temperature with generally higher temperatures in summer than in winter and with a higher variability during winter. A clear change in the tendency of the temperature deviations was detected in summer 2015, which was due to the repair of an attenuator in the TEMPERA spectrometer. The mean and the standard deviations of the temperature differences between TEMPERA and the different measurements were calculated for two periods (before and after the repair) in order to quantify the accuracy and precision of this radiometer over the campaign period. The results showed absolute biases and standard deviations lower than 2 K for most of the altitudes. In addition, comparisons proved the good performance of TEMPERA in measuring the temperature in the stratosphere.
Macroeconomic Shocks and Banking Sector Developments in Egypt

From 2008 to 2011, Egypt was hit by significant shocks, both global and country-specific. This paper assesses the impact of the resulting macroeconomic instability on the banking sector, and examines its role as a shock absorber. The Central Bank of Egypt accommodated the shocks by supplying liquidity to the market. The paper verifies a change in the fiscal regime from one in which the primary fiscal balance was used an instrument to stabilize the public debt ratio to one in which the policy instrument stopped playing that role and affected investors' assessment of the risk of holding public debt. This pattern suggests that fiscal conditions influenced exchange rate and price expectations originating a fiscal dominance situation in which the Central Bank could not control inflation. Hence, the Central Bank lacked functional independence in spite of its de jure independence, which underscores the importance of strengthening institutions that facilitate policy coordination and allow policy to be more predictable. The government also funds itself through non-market mechanisms, in a typical financial repression scheme. The paper estimates the revenue from financial repression at about 2.5 percent of gross domestic product in 2011, which together with the revenues from seignoriage add up to close to 50 percent of the budgeted tax revenues, indicating the need for an in-depth review of the governance of the public banks and the funding of public sector activities. Finally, the paper estimates the impact of shocks to macroeconomic variables on loan portfolio quality and bank capital.
The ecology of female receptivity in the territorial butterfly Hypolimnas bolina (L.) (Nymphalidae): implications for mate location by males

Many male insects aggressively defend specific perching sites containing larval resources. There are three main explanations for how this behaviour could contribute to increased matings: perching males may aim to encounter (1) eclosing or freshly eclosed virgin females, (2) previously mated, ovipositing females, or (3) receptive females that visit these sites either specifically to mate or for other reasons. I evaluated these hypotheses by investigating the timing of post-eclosion female receptivity and the extent of polyandry within an Australian population of the butterfly Hypolimnas bolina (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). This species represents the group of butterflies in which males defend specific, geographically prominent, sites that overlap with the distribution of larval resources. Freshly emerged female H. bolina refrained from mating until their ovaries were close to maturation, resulting in a pre-mating period of 4–8 days. The presence of this substantial refractory period rules out the hypothesis that males defend pupation sites with the aim of mating with eclosing or freshly eclosed females. Secondly, almost 90% of females within the studied population carried only one spermatophore, a finding that mediates against the possibility that most perching males target (already mated) ovipositing females. The ‘rendezvous-site’ hypothesis is the most likely general explanation for territoriality in H. bolina; however, it remains unclear whether the distribution of larval hostplants per se has a primary influence on territory selection by males in this species.