Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HIERARCHICAL KNOWLEDGE BASED CLASSIFICATION ( HKBC ) ON SENTINEL-2 A DATA FOR GLACIER MAPPING OF BHAGA RIVER BASIN , NORTHWEST HIMALAYA

Morphological changes to glaciers and their mapping has always been one of most important scientific studies. Taking into consideration the extent and isolation of glaciers, remote sensing acts as a valuable tool for regular mapping, monitoring and dynamic studies of glaciers. The aim of this study was to map the areal extant of Glaciated classes (Snow, Ice and Ice Mixed with Debris) and surrounding non-glaciated classes (Vegetation, Water bodies, Debris/Outwash and Valley Rock) using different techniques in Bhaga Basin covering 1640.54 Km in Chenab valley in North Western Himalayas. Various image classification techniques i.e. Image Ratios, Spectral Indices, Supervised classification using Maximum Likelihood classifier (MLC), and Hierarchical Knowledge Base Classification (HKBC) were applied on high-resolution Sentinel-2A level-1c satellite data of October, 22, 2016. Here NIR/SWIR ratio with a threshold value of 1.9 was found to be most suitable for masking glaciers from other non-glaciated terrain classes. SWIR/BLUE ratio image was used with a threshold value of >0.25 and slope <24 for mapping debris while value> 0.25 was used with slope >24. Validation was performed using a High Resolution (2 meters) Worldview Image using 400 stratified random points. The overall accuracy of MLC was 66% while that of HKBC was 89.50 %. According to HKBC, total areal extent of glaciers (Snow, Ice and IMD) in Bhaga basin was 343.34 km, nearly 20.9 % of study area comprising of 12.48% Snow covered area, 6.48% Ice and 1.76% IMD covered area. Non-glaciated classes (vegetation, water, debris/outwash plain and valley rock) covered 79.1% of the total area out of which valley rock is dominant with 61.29% coverage followed by debris/outwash plain covering 13.96% of the area in Bhaga Basin. Hence, HKBC is a better technique for mapping various glaciated terrain and using higher resolution data like Sentinel 2 can increase the efficiency of mapping.
User-Centered Risk Communication for Safer Browsing

Solutions to phishing have included training users, stand-alone warnings, and automatic blocking. We integrated personalized blocking, filtering, and alerts into a single holistic risk-management tool, which leverages simple metaphorical cartoons that function both as risk communication and controls for browser settings. We tested the tool in two experiments. The first experiment was a four-week naturalistic study where we examined the acceptability and usability of the tool. The experimental group was exposed to fewer risks in that they chose to run fewer scripts, disabled most iFrames, blocked Flash, decreased tracking, and quickly identified each newly encountered website as unfamiliar. Each week participants increased their tool use. Conversely, those in the control group expressed perceptions of lower risk, while enabling more potentially malicious processes. We then tested phishing resilience in the laboratory with newly recruited participants. The results showed that the tool significantly improved participants’ ability to distinguish between legitimate and phishing sites.
Instilling Values Character Education Through Playing Role Model in Learning History

This paper aims to describe the history of the efforts of teachers in instilling the values of character education through learning model "role playing" in school. Efforts were made so that the values of character education integrated into history courses through the learning model "role playing". In addition, the need to identify a suitable historical material applied through learning model "role playing. " This paper is expected to contribute ideas to the history teacher, about the learning model that can be used as a reference in instilling the values of character education and awareness of history to students.
Interaction of Vibrio to Biotic and Abiotic Surfaces: Relationship between Hydrophobicity, Cell Adherence, Biofilm Production, and Cytotoxic Activity

Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus are important pathogenic agents for both humans and aquatic animals. Twenty-five bacterial strains were isolated from infected sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) on thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose (TCBS) agar plates. For the species-specific detection of V. alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus, a multiplex PCR assay using two collagenase-targeted primer pairs allows the detection of four strains of V. parahaemolyticus and three strains of V. alginolyticus. The seven identified isolates were partitioned for capsule production, hydrophobicity, adherence, biofilm formation, invasion, and cytotoxicity against Hep-2 cells. Two V. parahaemolyticus (Spa2 and Spa3) and one V. alginolyticus (Va01) were capsule producers developing almost black colonies on CRA, they showed a strong hydrophobicity using bacterial adhesion to hydrocarbons test (BATH), and were able to produce high biofilm. Isolates were able to adhere and invade Hep-2 cells and exhibited dissimilar levels of cytotoxicity in epithelial cells. This study shows the strong relationship between adhesion, biofilm formation, invasion and the cytotoxicity of Vibrio strains. Thus, we found a strong and significant positive correlation between different virulence properties of these isolates. The present study shows that bacterial contact with the cells as well as adhesion and invasion are essential steps to induce cytotoxicity. However, the invasion is seen to be a post adherence event.
Inflation dynamics in a dollarised economy: The case of Zimbabwe

This paper explores the dynamics of inflation in the dollarised Zimbabwean economy using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model with monthly data from 2009:1 to 2012:12. The main determinants of inflation were found to be the US dollar/South African rand exchange rate, international oil prices, lagged Zimbabwean inflation rate and South African inflation rate. During the local currency era, inflation dynamics in Zimbabwe were explained by excess growth in money supply, changes in import and administered prices, unit labour costs and output (Chhibber, Cottani, Firuzabadi & Walton 1989). According to Makochekanwa (2007), hyperinflation during the same era was attributed to excess money supply growth, lagged inflation and political factors. Coorey, Clausen, Funke, Munoz & Ould-Abdallah (2007) affirmed these findings by identifying excess money supply growth as a source of high inflation in Zimbabwe during the local currency era. In essence, the findings of this study point to a shift in inflation dynamics in Zimbabwe. This shift in inflation dynamics means that policies, which were used to respond to both internal and external shocks that have an impact on price formation, might not be applicable in a dollarised economy.
Understanding Digitally-Mediated Empathy: An Exploration of Visual, Narrative, and Biosensory Informational Cues

Digitally sharing our experiences engages a process of empathy shaped by available informational cues. Biosensory data is one informative cue, but the relationship to empathy is underexplored. In this study, we investigate this process by showing a video of a "target'' person's visual perspective watching a virtual reality film to sixty "observers''. We vary information available to observers via three experimental conditions: a baseline unmodified video, video with narrative text, or with a graph of electrodermal activity (EDA) of the target. Compared to baseline, narrative text increased empathic accuracy (EA) while EDA had an opposite, negative effect. Qualitatively, observers describe their empathic processes as using their own feelings supplemented with the information presented depending on the interpretability of that information. Both narration and EDA prompted observers to reconsider assumptions about another's experience. Our findings lead to a discussion of digitally-mediated empathy with implications for associated research and product development.
Public education, technological change and economic prosperity: semi-endogenous growth revisited

We introduce publicly funded education into R&D based economic growth theory. Our framework allows us to i) explicitly describe a realistic process of human capital accumulation within these types of growth models, ii) reconcile semi-endogenous growth theory with the empirical evidence on the relationship between economic development and population growth, iii) revise the policy invariance result of semi-endogenous growth frameworks. In particular, we show that the model supports a negative (positive) association between economic growth and population growth if the education sector is well (badly) developed and that changes of public investments into education crucially affect the long-run balanced growth path.
Valuing Beach Quality with Hedonic Property Models

This paper explores the influence of beach quality on coastal property values. We hypothesize that beach and dune width provide local public goods in the form of recreation potential and storm/erosion protection, but services are limited by distance from the shoreline. Our findings support this hypothesis, as extending the influence of beach quality beyond 300 m from the shore generally results in statistically insignificant parameter estimates. For houses within this proximity bound, beach and dune widths increase property value. We argue that interpretation of marginal willingness to pay for beach quality depends upon individual understanding of coastal processes and expectations of management intervention. (JEL Q26, Q51)
Random matrix theory and higher genus integrability: the quantum chiral Potts model

We perform a random matrix theory (RMT) analysis of the quantum fourstate chiral Potts chain for different sizes of the chain up to size L = 8. Ou ra nalysis gives clear evidence of a Gaussian orthogonal ensemble (GOE) statistics, suggesting the existence of a generalized time-reversal invariance. Furthermore, a change from the (generic) GOE distribution to a Poisson distribution occurs when the integrability conditions are met. The chiral Potts model is known to correspond to a (star-triangle) integrability associated with curves of genus higher than zero or one. Therefore, the RMT analysis can also be seen as a detector of ‘higher genus integrability’.
Task-Related Discourse as an Indicator of Elementary "Expertise"1

This study examined children's dialogue about tasks in grades 1 through 6. Sentences produced by 14 children who were rated as having high or low self-direction by their teachers were observed and coded for dialogue features, task features, and emotional tone. Dialogue features included; (1) initiation, whicli was spontaneous or elicited; (2) mode, which was declarative or interrogative; (3) direction, which was to self or other; (4) task ownership, which was the child's or someone else's; and (E) knowledge content, which was current or elaborative. Task features included which function or object of the task was discussed. Results indicated that children with high self-direction had higher rates of statements, but not of questions, per hour than did children with low self-direction. This was especially true of spontaneous statements. Children with high self-direction used more sentences that involved the task function of planning than did children with low self-direction. Results are interpreted to mean that there is a greater self-level of expertise among children with high self-direction than among those with low self-direction. A list of 29 references is provided. (Author/BC) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Othce of Eaucehonal Reeeatch and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Al'h.s document has been reproduced es ,oe,c:. ve,c1. ,:ire,A the person or oroanlarron r Minor changes have been made to ,mprove reprOduCtion duality PointS Of vie* or opinions staled . n thiSdOCu ment do nol neCesSarily represent official OEM poSition or policy Task-Related Discourse as an Indicator of Elementary "Expertise"1 Andrew Biemiller University of Toronto Donald Meichenbaum University of Waterloo Paper presented at the 1991 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA, April, 1991. -PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY RYNkr-ekt,)
[BOMBARDIER] Research Project

However, renewable energy technologies, even if rapidly advancing with a further growth expected over the next decade, will remain a relatively small fraction of the overall power generation. Therefore, fossil fuels will represent, for still quite a long time, the primary energy source in the world and 2030 projections assign them a slightly reduced share but a dramatic increase of their absolute amount. In spite of lower quote, increased absolute amount of fossil fuels consumption makes the target of reducing CO2 emissions unattainable without Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in power generation.
Sexual dimorphism in water and nitrogen use strategies in Honckenya peploides: timing matters

Aims Sexes of dimorphic species often differ in ecophysiological traits and display spatial segregation. These differences have been interpreted as an evolved response of the sexes to meet the specific resource demands associated with reproduction. Sexes may differ not only in the amount of resources allocated to reproduction but also in the timing of allocation to reproduction. In this study, we hypothesize that as a consequence of their specific resource demands for reproduction, the sexes of the dune plant Honckenya peploides differ in terms of temporal patterns of water use efficiency and nitrogen use and acquisition. Methods Water use efficiency, as inferred from leaf carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C), nitrogen use, estimated by leaf nitrogen isotope composition (δ15N), and the foliar carbon and nitrogen contents were measured in males and females at three different points in time. Important Findings Females had greater water use efficiency than males, regardless of time. The ratio of N15 to N14 did not change with time in males, but significantly decreased in August for females. The total N content in the leaf tissues of females decreased as the season progressed, while in males a decrease was only found from April to June and then it remained constant from June to August. A similar pattern, but reversed, was followed by the foliar C/N ratio. Additionally, negative relationships between leaf Δ13C and N content were found at all times for males and only at the end of the season for females. Thus, our hypothesis that sex-specific patterns of nitrogen and water use efficiency will depend on time was supported. Overall, our results highlight the importance of including time in studies of sexual dimorphism, and also the role that physiological specialization plays in meeting the specific demands associated with reproduction.
TUNING STUDIES ON 4-ROD RFQs

For the optimization of Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) design parameters, a certain voltage distribution along the electrodes of an RFQ is assumed. Therefore an accurate tuning of the voltage distribution is very important for the beam dynamic properties of an RFQ. A variation can lead to particle losses and reduced beam quality. Our electrode design usually implies a constant longitudinal voltage distribution. For its adjustment tuning plates are used between the stems of the 4-Rod RFQ. Their optimal positions can be found by an iterative process. To structure this tuning process simulations with a NI LabVIEW based Tuning Software and CST Microwave Studio R are performed and compared to measurements of the ReA3RFQ of the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University. The results of this studies are presented in this paper.
How Can I Grab That? Solving Issues of Interaction in VR by Choosing Suitable Selection and Manipulation Techniques

: The selection and manipulation of objects in Virtual Reality face application developers with a substantial challenge as they need to ensure a seamless interaction in three-dimensional space. Assessing the advantages and disadvantages of selection and manipulation techniques in specific scenarios and regarding usability and user experience is a mandatory task to find suitable forms of interaction. In this article, we take a look at the most common issues arising in the interaction with objects in VR. We present a taxonomy allowing the classification of techniques regarding multiple dimensions. The issues are then associated with these dimensions. Furthermore, we analyze the results of a study comparing multiple selection techniques and present a tool allowing developers of VR applications to search for appropriate selection and manipulation techniques and to get scenario dependent suggestions based on the data of the executed study.
Population Dynamics of Seagrass Communities in Biscayne Bay, Florida: Exploring the Influence of Salinity on Seascape Fragmentation

of a thesis at the University of Miami. Thesis supervised by Professor Diego Lirman. No. of pages in text. (49) Seagrass communities display complex population dynamics that are presently poorly understood. While most studies of disturbance on seagrass habitats have focused on changes in biomass at small, quadrat-level scales, limited information is available on the impacts of disturbances on seagrass patch dynamics on a broad scale. In this study, a landscape approach based on remote sensing imagery and population modelling were applied to understand seagrass patch dynamics and forecast the fate of these important communities in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida, US. The seagrass communities of Biscayne Bay are especially influenced by the modifications of the Everglades watershed that has significantly changed the timing of freshwater deliveries and nearshore salinity patterns over the last 70 years. This research evaluated the historical influence of salinity on seagrass communities and how changes in salinity may cause seascape fragmentation by documenting the long-term population dynamics of seagrass habitats found adjacent and distant to freshwater canals. A positive outcome of this study is that the historical analysis covering > 70 years revealed remarkable persistence of seagrass cover even in habitats that were modified by the construction of freshwater canals. Fragmentation rates of the seagrass patches varied spatially and temporally but were higher in sites adjacent to canals compared to sites removed from these influences. Furthermore, there was a clear trend in mortality rates in relation to the size of seagrass patches, with the smallest patches undergoing 57% annual mortality on average. Model simulations based on observed patch dynamics suggest that seagrass meadows can persist as long as the recruitment of new patches compensates for patch fragmentation. The combination of higher fragmentation rates and the higher mortality of smaller seagrass patches in habitats exposed to pulses of low salinity raises concern for the long-term persistence of seagrass meadows in nearshore urban habitats of Biscayne Bay that are presently targets of Everglades restoration. The combined remote sensing and population modelling approach used here provide evaluation and predictive tools that can be used by managers to track seagrass status and stress-response at seascape levels not available previously for the seagrasses of South Florida.
Feature Extraction for Object Recognition and Image Classification

Feature Extraction is one of the most popular research areas in the field of image analysis as it is a prime requirement in order to represent an object. An object is represented by a group of features in form of a feature vector. This feature vector is used to recognize objects and classify them. Previous works have proposed various feature extraction techniques to find the feature vector. This paper provides a comprehensive framework of various feature extraction techniques and their use in object recognition and classification. It also provides their comparison. Various techniques have been considered and their pros and cons along with the method of implementation and detailed experimental results have been discussed.
OPTIMIZATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE MODIFIED PLVL-VARIABLE STIFFNESS ACTUATOR

The pseudo-linear variable-stiffness actuator (PLVL-VSA) is a variable stiffness actuator with a mechanical stiffness adaptation. It has a nearly linear torque deflection characteristics and an energy efficient stiffness variation. However, this stiffness variation efficiency is reduced at higher mechanism deflections, which manifests as a higher torque required to retain the desired mechanism’s stiffness. In this work, a modification that decreases the stiffness varying motor torque, thus increasing mechanism’s energy efficiency, is proposed. The main design parameters are optimized with respect to the highest torque/deflection workspace, while staying below the peak torque constraints of both motors’ gearboxes. The effect of the modification is analysed and compared to the original mechanism. The new configuration requires less torque and energy to vary the stiffness compared to the original mechanism in a slightly reduced mechanism stiffness range.
Prediction of Health Risk and Estimation of Associated Variables with Work Stress using Allostatic Load Index

Allostatic load index (ALI) detects health risk due to stress at early stages. The best way for defining high risk threshold values of ALI biomarkers is not agreed upon. Environmental factors associating stress are also in need of further investigation. Methods: Study sample included 62 Egyptian workers. Biochemical, clinical and anthropometrical measures were done for calculation of ALI. Risk quartile method, cutoff point method and risk quartile of cutoffs (new) were used for determination of risk thresholds. Results: The new risk quartile of cutoffs method was able to detect the highest ALI, showed significant correlations with greater number of biomarkers and highlighted more predictors of allostasis. Predictors of stress included age and gender. Conclusions: Risk quartile of cutoffs is a recommended new method more appropriate for calculation of high risk threshold of ALI biomarkers.
Non-linear processes for electricity prices: robust estimation and forecasting

In this paper we suggest the use of robust GM-SETAR (Self Exciting Threshold AutoRegressive) processes to model and forecast electricity prices observed on deregulated markets. The robustness of the model is achieved by extending to time series the generalized M-type (GM) estimator first introduced for independent multivariate data. As it has been shown in a very recent paper [5], the polynomial weighting function over-performs the classical ordinary least squares method when extreme observations are present. The main advantage of estimating robust SETAR models is the possibility to capture two very well-known stylized facts of electricity prices: nonlinearity produced by changes of regimes and the presence of sudden spikes due to inelasticity of demand. The forecasting performance of the model applied to the Italian electricity market (IPEX) is improved by the introduction of predicted demand as an exogenous regressor. The availability of this regressor is a particular feature of the Italian market. By means of prediction performance indexes and tests, it will be shown that this regressor plays a crucial role and that robust methods improve the overall forecasting performance of the model.