Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lessons on Successful Utilization of Forest Land for Crop Agriculture: Evidence from Kenyan Community Forest Associations∗

The broad objective of this paper is to boost the provision of landless communities in land-scarce areas with options to grow appropriate food crops and other related economic activities inside the available forest reserves during early stages of reforestation programmes. In itself, the participation of local communities in management and utilization of forest resources through collective action has become widely accepted as a possible solution to failure of centralized, top-down approaches to forest conservation. Developing countries have thus resorted to devolution of forest management through initiatives such as Participatory Forest Management (PFM) and Joint Forest Management (JFM). In Kenya, under such initiatives, communities have been able to self-organize into community forest associations (CFAs). However, despite these efforts and an increased number of CFAs, the results in terms of ecological outcomes have been mixed, with some CFAs failing and others thriving. Little is known about the factors influencing success of these initiatives. In addition, finding ways of making sure that community participation in forest conservation yields desirable results opens up options for satisfying more land needs using forest reserves in a manner which does not negatively affect their mandate. This is important as in some areas there is no alternative land to allocate to the landless communities. Using household level data from 518 households and community level data from 22 CFAs from the Mau forest conservancy, the study employed regression techniques to identify factors influencing household participation levels in CFA activities and to further identify the determinants of successful collective management of forest resources, as well as the link between participation level and the success of collective action. The results show that the success of collective action is associated with the level of household participation in CFA activities, distance to the forest resource, institutional quality, group size, and salience of the resource, among other factors. We also found that collective action is more successful when CFAs are formed through users’ self-motivation with frequent interaction with government institutions, provision of alternative lands through PELIS and when the forest cover is low. Policy implications are also highlighted. Our findings help inform policy programmes which seek to satisfy some of the community land needs in land-scarce countries through conservation-friendly agricultural use of areas previously demarcated for exclusive use on forests.
OP-BRAI190342 1..9

The diagnostic criteria for small fibre neuropathy are not established, influencing the approach to patients in clinical practice, their access to disease-modifying and symptomatic treatments, the use of healthcare resources, and the design of clinical trials. To address these issues, we performed a reappraisal study of 150 patients with sensory neuropathy and a prospective and follow-up validation study of 352 new subjects with suspected sensory neuropathy. Small fibre neuropathy diagnostic criteria were based on deep clinical phenotyping, quantitative sensory testing (QST) and intraepidermal nerve fibre density (IENFD). Small fibre neuropathy was ruled out in 5 of 150 patients (3.3%) of the reappraisal study. Small fibre neuropathy was diagnosed at baseline of the validation study in 149 of 352 patients (42.4%) based on the combination between two clinical signs and abnormal QST and IENFD (69.1%), abnormal QST alone (5.4%), or abnormal IENFD alone (20.1%). Eight patients (5.4%) had abnormal QST and IENFD but no clinical signs. Further, 38 patients complained of sensory symptoms but showed no clinical signs. Of those, 34 (89.4%) had normal QST and IENFD, 4 (10.5%) had abnormal QST and normal IENFD, and none had abnormal IENFD alone. At 18-month follow-up, 19 of them (56%) reported the complete recovery of symptoms and showed normal clinical, QST and IENFD findings. None of those with one single abnormal test (QST or IENFD) developed clinical signs or showed abnormal findings on the other test. Conversely, all eight patients with abnormal QST and IENFD at baseline developed clinical signs at follow-up. The combination of clinical signs and abnormal QST and/or IENFD findings can more reliably lead to the diagnosis of small fibre neuropathy than the combination of abnormal QST and IENFD findings in the absence of clinical signs. Sensory symptoms alone should not be considered a reliable screening feature. Our findings demonstrate that the combined clinical, functional and structural approach to the diagnosis of small fibre neuropathy is reliable and relevant both for clinical practice and clinical trial design.
UHI Research Database pdf download summary A Simple Shelf Circulation Model: Intrusion of Atlantic Water on the West Spitsbergen

Barotropic flow along depth contours is found in accordancewith standard geostrophic theory.A numerical model is developed that studies the deviation from such a flow. The model gives a good approximation of the dynamical processes on the West Spitsbergen Shelf (WSS) and shows that the West Spitsbergen Current (WSC), the main gateway of Atlantic water (AW) toward the Arctic, connects more easily to the Isfjorden Trough than anywhere else along the shelf. The circulation ofAW in the troughs along theWSS is here named the Spitsbergen TroughCurrent (STC). Fromhydrographical and ocean current observations it is evident that the STC is primarily barotropic and driven by the sea surface height. A connection between the along-coast wind stress and the STC is established, and it is demonstrated how the increased occurrence of winter cyclones in Fram Strait during January–February accelerates and widens the WSC. Ultimately, this results in a strengthened STC and dominance of AW on the WSS. The STC represents a slower route of AW toward the ArcticOcean and a large heat transport toward theWest Spitsbergen fjords duringwinter (0.2–0.4 TW toward Isfjorden). Heat flux estimates show that half of theAWheat loss in the Isfjorden Trough is due to heat loss to the surrounding water masses, while the rest is lost to the atmosphere. Sea ice production along West Spitsbergen has been reduced, or even nonexistent, in some fjords since 2006.Here, the authors argue that this is a consequence of the strong southerly wind periods along the WSS during winter.
Bilingual and Multilingual Mental Lexicon: A Modeling Study With Linear Discriminative Learning

This study addresses the question of whether there is anything special about learning a third language, as compared to learning a second language, just by virtue of the third language being the third language acquired, and independently of the specific properties of the third language. We used computational modeling to explore this question for the learning of a small vocabulary of some 400 words, with English as L1, German or Mandarin as L2, and Mandarin and alternatively Dutch, as L3. For computational modeling, we made use of the mathematical framework of linear discriminative learning, which we extended with the learning rule of Widrow-Hoff to enable the modeling of incremental learning of the mappings between form and meaning when words' meanings are represented by vectors of real numbers (embeddings) rather than by abstract symbolic units. A series of simulation experiments covering single-language learning, bilingual learning, and finally trilingual learning, clarified that within the framework of discrimination learning, within-language homophones give rise to frailty in comprehension that in turn for production gives rise to semantic errors in L1, and language intrusions in L2 and L3. Our model correctly predicts production to lag behind comprehension in learning, and it clarified that, within the boundaries of discrimination learning, the properties of the L3 crucially determine whether L3 learning appears to involve a language that is `dormant' with respect to L1 and L2. Qualitatively surprisingly different patterns of acquisition of the L3, and its interactions with L1 and L2, can arise in our simulations without any changes in the mathematics driving learning. Our simulations also show that when words' forms incorporate not only segmental but also suprasegmental information, the nature of errors that arise in production changes. In the general discussion, we reflect on the implications of our findings for the question of what is special about multilingualism.
Virtual-reality as a Simulation Tool for Non-humanoid Social Robots

Evaluating the interaction between people and non-humanoid robots requires advanced physical prototyping, and in many cases is limited to lab setting with Wizard-of-Oz control. Virtual Reality (VR) was suggested as a simulation tool, allowing for fast, flexible and iterative design processes. In this controlled study, we evaluated whether VR is a valid platform for testing social interaction between people and non-humanoid robots. Our quantitative findings indicate that social interpretations associated with two types of gestures of a robotic object are similar in virtual and physical interactions with the robot, suggesting that the core aspects of social interaction with non-humanoid robots are preserved in a VR simulation. The impact of this work to the CHI community is in indicating the potential of VR as a platform for initial evaluations of social experiences with non-humanoid robots, including interaction studies that involve different facets of the social experience.
Effect of Internet of Things on Business Strategy: The Mediating Role of Marketing Intelligence Capability

Innovative developments in Internet of Things (IoT) have invoked tremendous attention from both academics and industries. Studies suggest that IoT not only serves as an innovative tool for enterprise operations but also triggers impacts on business performance. As researchers increasingly raise interests about the business value of IoT, this study examines its direct and indirect managerial effects by investigating the link between IoT and business strategy. Referring to the organizational capability perspective, this study constructed a research framework in which marketing intelligence capability mediates the effect of IoT capability on business strategy formation. An empirical survey was performed and an analysis of the data was conducted to test the hypotheses. The results confirmed the mediating role of marketing intelligence capability in the link between IoT capability and business strategy formation. Discussions with managerial implications are then elaborated.
The Friendly Blacksmith Application of Preference Elicitation Techniques to a Computer Game’s Synthetic Vendor

Preference handling techniques have been a subject of increasing study, as they prove as useful tools to support decision making, using a preference model as basis. As a part of preference handling, preference elicitation arises here as the key process of obtaining such a model, with maximal accuracy and minimal effort. The main goal of this work is to apply preference handling techniques, with a focus on preference elicitation, to synthetic vendors in computer games, in particular roleplaying games, to assist players in making decisions and hopefully enriching the game experience. This document starts with a description of current role-playing game interfaces, exposing the problem caused by the lack of customized support during vendor interactions, followed by an explanation of the concept of preferences and how to work with them, reviewing relevant preference elicitation techniques. The concepts underneath the recommender system developed to test this work’s hypothesis are formally explained, and an overview of its implementation is given. The recommender system’s evaluation process is then described in detail and collected data is presented, analyzed and discussed, with overall encouraging results. Finally, concluding remarks are presented and several points for future work are suggested.
Whole Genome Sequencing of 91 Multiplex Schizophrenia Families Reveals Increased Burden of Rare Copy Number Variation in Schizophrenia Probands and Genetic Heterogeneity Authors

The importance of genomic copy number variants (CNVs) has long been recognized in the etiology of neurodevelopmental diseases. We report here the results from the CNV analysis of whole-genome sequences from 91 multiplex schizophrenia families. Employing four algorithms (CNVnator, Cn.mops, DELLY and LUMPY) to identify CNVs, we find 1,231 rare deletions and 287 rare duplications in 300 individuals (77 with schizophrenia (SZ), 32 with schizoaffective disorder (SAD), 82 with another neuropsychiatric diagnosis and 109 unaffected). The size of the CNVs ranges from a few hundred base-pairs to about 1.3 Mb. The total burden of CNVs does not differ significantly between affected (SZ and SAD) and unaffected individuals. Parent-to-child transmission rate for rare CNVs affecting exonic regions is significantly higher for affected (SZ and SAD) probands as compared to their siblings, but rates for all CNVs is not. We observe heterogeneity between families in terms of genes involved in CNVs, and find several CNVs involving genes previously implicated in either schizophrenia or other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Security Overlay for Distributed Encrypted Containers

: Storage services enable a high potential for time and location independent access to information particularly combined with smart mobile devices. In combination with corporate and local storage, those services can be a powerful extension to available storage in enterprise or governmental environments. In contrast, common secure storage strategies like encrypted partitions or disks are static and remotely inaccessible, but are comfortable to use in a local scenario. However, storing sensitive data on public servers is not an option due to the possibility that an unauthorized third party can access it. Generally security policies like corporate compliance prohibit those services explicitly. Thus, sensitive data has to be encrypted to allow its storage on public servers. The paper at hand describes a security overlay using a trusted environment to build a distributed virtual encrypted container that supports OTFE (on-the-fly-encryption). For this purpose, an easily extendable security overlay is introduced where each file or data set is encrypted independently. The overlay provides a hierarchical key structure, which hierarchically controls access to uploaded data and maps the data structure at the same time. Additionally, the directory structures and the meta-data are protected against unauthorized access. Therefore, the presented concept enables the creation of a deniable distributed file system that can enable an implementation to make strong security promises. The
NMR-based metabonomic studies of human pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal malignancies in the world with an overall 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. Diagnosing pancreatic cancer is not always straightforward. Clinical imaging of the pancreas can be misleading and currently available clinical biomarkers are few and lack sensitivity and specificity. Obtaining tissue or cytology from the pancreaticobiliary system to confirm a diagnosis is clinically invasive and may be inconclusive. Further non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers are clearly required. I describe the feasibility of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as a modality for novel plasma and urine pancreaticobiliary biomarker discovery Plasma and urine samples from 44 patients undergoing pancreatic resection for pancreaticobiliary malignancy along with a benign cohort of 45 patients were acquired. Spectra were obtained on a Varian NMR 500 MHz spectrometer. Unsupervised and supervised multivariate pattern recognition techniques were used for chemometric analysis. Model validation was assessed through permutation and cross validation techniques Plasma metabonomic profiling identified clear separation between malignant and benign pancreaticobiliary disease with an overall sensitivity and specificity of 64.9 and 73.5% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity among non-jaundiced patients rose to 75 and 75.8% respectively. Suppressed metabolites among cancer patients included VLDL, valine and acetate. Up- regulated metabolites included isobutyrate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, acetoacetate, pyruvate, glucose and taurine. Urinary metabonomic profiling failed to satisfactorily discriminate between benign and malignant disease. Plasma nuclear magnetic resonance metabonomic profiling has significant potential for future pancreaticobiliary biomarker development. Plasma bilirubin is an important confounding factor, which must be accounted for in all future pancreaticobiliry metabonomic studies
Unusual Extraocular Muscles Involvement from Ductal Breast Carcinoma: A Case Report with Literature Review

The metastatic involvement of the orbit in malignant tumors is a very rare diagnosed condition. Primary breast cancer is incriminated in the majority of these cases. We describe a case of a right orbital metastasis in a 41 year old lady, previously diagnosed stage IV breast cancer with extensive lung and bone metastases, presenting with six nerve palsy. A CT scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of brain and orbits revealed a right orbital metastatic lesion involving the medial rectus and inferior oblique muscles. At the time of presentation of her eye symptoms, she was on chemotherapy with docetaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab. Eye symptoms regressed almost completely during the following months. A follow up orbital CT scan was performed, showing significant regression of the tumor. A review of the literature and the current case, reveal that the appearance of eye symptoms in patients with a history of breast cancer should always be investigated with a consideration of ocular metastatic disease.
Low-ohmic sense resistors in automotive systems

For current measurement, two physically very diverse measuring methods have established themselves in certain segments of the market in the last two decades: magnetic current sensors, and shunt-based current measurement. The main advantages of magnetic sensors—among which current transformers and Hall-effect sensors—are that they are potential free and feature low power loss. For this reason, engineers mainly employ these sensors in drive technology and in connection with large currents. Their main disadvantages are comparatively large volume, non-ideal offset and linearity characteristics, and temperature drift.
Active Perception and Representation for Robotic Manipulation

The vast majority of visual animals actively control their eyes, heads, and/or bodies to direct their gaze toward different parts of their environment. In contrast, recent applications of reinforcement learning in robotic manipulation employ cameras as passive sensors. These are carefully placed to view a scene from a fixed pose. Active perception allows animals to gather the most relevant information about the world and focus their computational resources where needed. It also enables them to view objects from different distances and viewpoints, providing a rich visual experience from which to learn abstract representations of the environment. Inspired by the primate visual-motor system, we present a framework that leverages the benefits of active perception to accomplish manipulation tasks. Our agent uses viewpoint changes to localize objects, to learn state representations in a self-supervised manner, and to perform goal-directed actions. We apply our model to a simulated grasping task with a 6-DoF action space. Compared to its passive, fixed-camera counterpart, the active model achieves 8% better performance in targeted grasping. Compared to vanilla deep Q-learning algorithms, our model is at least four times more sample-efficient, highlighting the benefits of both active perception and representation learning.
Tuning Ranking in Co-occurrence Networks with General Biased Exchange-based Diffusion on Hyper-bag-graphs

Co-occurence networks can be adequately modeled by hyper-bag-graphs (hb-graphs for short). A hb-graph is a family of multisets having same universe, called the vertex set. An efficient exchange-based diffusion scheme has been previously proposed that allows the ranking of both vertices and hb-edges. In this article, we extend this scheme to allow biases of different kinds and explore their effect on the different rankings obtained. The biases enhance the emphasize on some particular aspects of the network.
180° rotations in the polarization angle for blazars

Rotations of the electric vector position angle (EVPA) in blazars are often close to an integral multiple of 180°. There are many examples of this in the literature, and we strengthen the evidence by showing that, in the RoboPol monitoring program, nπ rotations occur more frequently than otherwise expected by chance. We explain this using a model consisting of two polarized emission components: a “jet” that is constant in time and a “burst” that is variable. The EVPA of the combination is EVPAjet at both the beginning and the end of the burst, so the net rotation across the burst must be nπ. Several examples of this model are analyzed on the Stokes plane, where the winding number for the Stokes vector of the combination gives the value of n. The main conclusion is that the EVPA rotation can be much larger than the physical rotation of the emission region around the axis of the jet, but this requires the EVPAs of the jet and the burst to be nearly orthogonal. Shock-in-jet calculations can provide a physical model for our toy model and in addition they automatically give the required orthogonality. The model is illustrated with data from the literature on OJ 287. We suggest that the large rapid EVPA rotation seen in OJ 287 might be a phase effect and not representative of a physical rotation.
Recommending Deployment Strategies for Collaborative Tasks

Our work contributes to aiding requesters in deploying collaborative tasks in crowdsourcing. We initiate the study of recommending deployment strategies for collaborative tasks to requesters that are consistent with deployment parameters they desire: a lower-bound on the quality of the crowd contribution, an upper-bound on the latency of task completion, and an upper-bound on the cost incurred by paying workers. A deployment strategy is a choice of value for three dimensions: Structure (whether to solicit the workforce sequentially or simultaneously), Organization (to organize it collaboratively or independently), and Style (to rely solely on the crowd or to combine it with machine algorithms). We propose StratRec, an optimization-driven middle layer that recommends deployment strategies and alternative deployment parameters to requesters by accounting for worker availability. Our solutions are grounded in discrete optimization and computational geometry techniques that produce results with theoretical guarantees. We present extensive experiments on Amazon Mechanical Turk, and conduct synthetic experiments to validate the qualitative and scalability aspects of StratRec.
Atiyah–Patodi–Singer index theorem for domain walls

We consider the index of a Dirac operator on a compact even dimensional manifold with a domain wall. The latter is defined as a co-dimension one submanifold where the connection jumps. We formulate and prove an analog of the Atiyah–Patodi–Singer theorem that relates the index to the bulk integral of Pontryagin density and η-invariants of auxiliary Dirac operators on the domain wall. Thus the index is expressed through the global chiral anomaly in the volume and the parity anomaly on the wall.