Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Size of Training Firms: The Role of Firms, Luck, and Ability in Young Workers' Careers

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze how long-run unemployment of former apprentices depends on the size of their training firm and their ability. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a large administrative data set that follows graduated apprentices during their working life. They show that training in large and medium-sized firms is associated with considerably less unemployment. This, however, may simply be the result of sorting processes, i.e. larger training firms with higher wage levels attract and choose the most able young workers. Therefore, the authors use a proxy for ability to estimate and control for the impact of ability on long-run unemployment. They assume that rank-order tournaments for the most attractive training positions take place and take into account an institutional peculiarity of the German training system, the empirically observable regional immobility of apprentices. Accordingly, they use a region-specific ranking based on training plants’ size or median wages, respectively, to proxy for apprentices’ ability. Findings The negative association between training plant size and long-run unemployment is muted but still statistically well determined even after controlling for the rank of an individual’s training firm in the local plant size distribution or the local wage distribution, respectively. Thus, the rank itself is a predictor for long-run unemployment of apprentices. The fact that the position in the local size distribution matters conditional on plant size shows that there is a local competition for training places. Practical implications Lacking mobility may increases aggregate unemployment, as mobility reduces the risk of unemployment. Social implications The results imply that supporting regional mobility of young workers, e.g., by informing them better about existing mobility subsidies and dormitories for apprentices and by creating additional mobility incentives is warranted. Originality/value This is the first study to investigate long-run unemployment of former apprentices. Furthermore, the authors develop new variables to proxy for ability.
Characterization of open cracks in burst vibrothermography experiments

In this work, we use vibrothermography to characterize open vertical cracks in a fast way. We excite the sample by a brief ultrasound burst and we record the evolution of the surface temperature distribution with an IR camera. From this sequence, temporal and spatial information is selected to characterize the heat sources activated at the defects. This ill-posed inverse problem is solved by inverting the data with a dedicated stabilized inversion algorithm. Experiments performed on samples containing artificial calibrated heat sources confirm the validity of the method to characterize both homogeneous and inhomogeneous flux distributions generated at the defects.
The phylogeography of Crocidura suaveolens from southern Italy reveals the absence of an endemic lineage and supports a Trans-Adriatic connection with the Balkanic refugium

A molecular phylogeographic study using a fragment of the mitochondrial gene for cytochrome b (cytb) was performed on the lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens , from seven localities in central and southern Italy. Comparison with cytb European haplotypes revealed the absence of endemic lineages in the region, in contrast to what has been observed for many other Italian terrestrial vertebrates. Indeed the all the Italian specimens results nested with Balkanic conspecific within an Italo-Balkan clade. Historical demography of this clade showed a scenario of expansion which preceded the LGM. This evidence of glacial persistence indicates a certain flexibility of the classic models of Pleistocene biogeography.
A phytosociological method for interpreting plankton data

Multivariate techniques allow data sets to be summarised, but are not deslgned to causally model ecological phenomena. The ambiguity of the interpretation results from the ambiguity of the scaling space. The phytosociological method proposed by Grandjouan (1982; These d'etat, Universite Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg) is a general interpretive framework allowing separate consideration of 3 distinct reference spaces. a geographical space to visualise the spatio-temporal distribution of the descriptors, an ecological space showing the effects of the environmental variables on the biological descriptors, and a bio-ethological space showing the statistically meaningful species cornmunities. It is thus possible to define the position of each biological category and each observation along the scale of variation of each environmental variable (hydrological position, HP) or each geographic coordinate (geographical posltlon. GP), as well as its density relatlve to these scales (indicative value, IV). Using continuous zooplankton data collected along a transect across the Llgunan Sea front, pnncipal component analysis and correspondence analysis were compared to this technique. The phytosociological method produced the most meaningful ecological results about the structure of thls frontal ecosystem.
Embedded character recognition system using random forest algorithm for IC inspection system

Character recognition system based on human inspection is unpractical due to lack of accuracy and high cost. Therefore, investigating on automated character inspection system by computer is needed to improve the accuracy, reduce the cost and inspection time. In this project, a Beagle Bone Black (BBB) was used as a processing device and Logitech webcam was used for as an image acquisition device. Total of 1080 training samples will undergo the image pre-processing, character segmentation, feature extraction and training using random forest classifier. The optimal parameter values of random forest classifier are determined by computing crossvalidation misclassification rate. The maximum number of splits, number of trees, and learning rate that yields the zeromisclassification rate is 1, 39 and 0.10 respectively. The process of testing random forest classifier was done using SN74LS27N chip under five different illuminations: no LED, one LED, two LED, three LED and four LED. From the experiments, it shows that the proposed system able to achieve 90.00% of accuracy within 1second to recognize characters on the SN74LS27N chip compared to 65.56% accuracy of human inspection.
MODELLING EXTREME SEA LEVELS DUE TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND STORM SURGE IN THE SETO INLAND SEA, JAPAN

The extreme sea level due to storm surge and future sea-level rise (SLR) in the year of 2050 and 2100 are estimated by using ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and extreme value analysis (EVA) with long-term sea level records in and around the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. Ensemble empirical mode decomposition, an adaptive data analysis method, can separate the tidal motions and the non-linear trend from the sea level records to reconstruct the storm surge levels, and then the reconstructed storm surge levels are applied to statistical model, EVA, to obtain the extreme storm surges at 95% confidence interval in the target return periods. The SLR trend at Tokuyama in the Seto Inland Sea obtained from EEMD is 3.58 mm/yr over 1993-2010, which is slightly larger than the recent altimetrybased global rate of 3.3 ± 0.4 mm/yr over 1993-2007. The resulting SLR in 2050 and 2100 estimated are 0.18 m and 0.49 m, respectively. The 30-, 50-, and 100-yr return levels at Tokuyama obtained by EVA are 1.30 m, 1.43 m and 1.64 m. Therefore, the extreme sea level in 2050 and 2100 due to future SLR and storm surge with 100-yr return level would be 1.82 m (1.35 m ~ 2.26 m with 95% confidence intervals) and 2.13 m (1.75 m ~ 3.10 m with 95% confidence intervals), respectively. The SLR is not only due to mass and volume changes of sea water, but also due to other factors such as local subsidence, river discharge and sediments, and vegetation effect. The non-linear trend of SLR, which is the residue from EEMD, can be regarded as a final consequential sea level after considering those factors and their nonlinearity. The combined EEMD-EVA method can be useful tool not only for the extreme sea level estimation under climate change, but also for many cases in coastal engineering and hydrology.
Bush Encroachment Mapping for Africa: Multi-scale analysis with remote sensing and GIS

Bush encroachment (BE) describes a global problem severely affecting savanna ecosystems in Africa. Invasive species and woody vegetation spread out in areas where they are not naturally occurring and suppress endemic vegetation, mainly grasses. Livestock is directly affected by decreasing grasslands and inedible invasive species which are a result of the process of BE. For many small scale farmers in developing countries livestock represents a type of insurance particular in times of crop failure and droughts. Among that, BE is also becoming an increasing problem for crop production. Studies on the mapping of BE have so far only focused on smaller regions using high-resolution data and aerial photography. But they rarely provide information that goes beyond the local or national level. In our project, we aimed at a continental-wide assessment of BE. For this, we developed a process chain using a multi-scale approach to detect woody vegetation for the African continent. The resulted map was calibrated with field data provided by field surveys and experts in Southern and Eastern Africa. Supervised classification linked field data of woody vegetation, known as BE, to the respective pixel of multi-scale remote sensing data. The regression technique was based on random forests, a machine learning classification and regression approach programmed in R. Hotpots of woody vegetation were further overlaid with significant increasing Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) trends which can refer to BE. Secondly, the probability of BE occurrence based on possible identified causes such as fire occurrence, mean annual precipitation rates, soil moisture, cattle density and CO2 emissions was analyzed. By this, possible areas for BE occurrence based on their pre-conditions and risk factors were identified. This approach includes multiple datasets derived from earth observation data to detect BE – a severe and ongoing global problem – at the continental level. Within the study´s duration of seven months, a method to upscale field data to a larger level could be developed. Nevertheless, improvement is needed to provide a reliable continental map on BE. Especially the integration of more field data will be needed which is currently under consideration. The identification of woody vegetation and the probability of its occurrence can help to prevent further ecosystem degradation. Moreover, sustainable land management strategies in these areas can be focused to support pastoralists and their livelihoods in rural areas.
The relationships between socio-demographic variables, travel motivations and subsequent choice of vacation

This study explores the relationship between socio-demographic variables and travel motivation and further investigates how travel motivations influence the travelers' choice of vacation. The data were obtained using an internet-based questionnaire administered to a random sample of 256 respondents. Using factor analyses, six motivational factors, thematically similar to other studies on travel motivation, were identified. In contrast to previous research on travel motivations among travelers from other countries, this study identified 'social relationship with family/friends' as the most important motivational factor for Danish travelers. The results show that travel motivations differ across various socio-demographic variables and that travel motivations are related to the travelers' choice of vacation. The article closes with a discussion of the implications of these findings and suggestions for future research.
Partition of planktonic respiratory carbon requirements during a phytoplankton spring bloom

We studied the effect of variable phytoplankton biomass and dominance of the diatom Skeletonema marinoi on the planktonic community respiratory carbon requirement over a period of 14 d (14 to 28 April 2008) in 3 different mesocosms filled with natural water at Espegrend marine biological field station in Raunefjord, Norway. The carbon requirement was measured on mesozooplankton (the calanoid copepod Calanus finmarchicus) and 3 other size fractions of plank- ton— 50% of the primary production, while bac- terioplankton showed an intermediate and variable contribution (ca. <20% with a maximum of 50%). Feeding experiments on mesozooplankton (C. finmarchicus) 2 d before the peak in phyto- plankton biomass showed that the copepods ingested from 2.4 to 4.3 times their respiratory carbon requirements, thus providing a high potential for growth. Respiratory carbon requirements of mesozooplankton were not significantly related to dominance or quantity of food available, whereas the respiratory carbon requirements of other groups were all related to the production of 22:6(n-3) fatty acid. The present study confirms the important role of microorganisms in the biolog- ical carbon transformation through the food web during a phytoplankton spring bloom.
A film bulk acoustic resonator oscillator based humidity sensor with graphene oxide as the sensitive layer

A film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) is a type of resonator with high frequency and small dimensions, particularly suitable for use as a sensor for physical and biochemical sensing with high sensitivity. FBAR-based sensors have been extensively studied, however they commonly use discrete devices and network analyzers for evaluation, and therefore are far from being able to be used in practical applications. This paper reports the design and analysis of an FBAR-based Pierce oscillator and a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based frequency counter, and the use of the oscillator as a humidity sensor with the frequency counter as the measuring circuit. Graphene oxide (GO) is used as the sensitive film to improve the sensitivity. The resonant frequency of the oscillator with a GO film shows a linear decrease with an increase in relative humidity, with a sensitivity of ca. 5 kHz per %RH (relative humidity) in the range of 3%RH to 70%RH, and a higher frequency shift is induced above 70%RH. The FBAR oscillator sensor shows excellent stability and repeatability, demonstrating the feasibility and potential sensing application using the integrated FBAR chip and simple frequency counter, particularly suitable for portable electronics.
Alternating Binary Classifier and Graph Learning from Partial Labels

Semi-supervised binary classifier learning is a fundamental machine learning task where only partial binary labels are observed, and labels of the remaining data need to be interpolated. Leveraging on the advances of graph signal processing (GSP), recently binary classifier learning is posed as a signal restoration problem regularized using a graph smoothness prior, where the undirected graph consists of a set of vertices and a set of weighted edges connecting vertices with similar features. In this paper, we improve the performance of such a graph-based classifier by simultaneously optimizing the feature weights used in the construction of the similarity graph. Specifically, we start by interpolating missing labels by first formulating a boolean quadratic program with a graph signal smoothness objective, then relax it to a convex semi-definite program, solvable in polynomial time. Next, we optimize the feature weights used for construction of the similarity graph by reusing the smoothness objective but with a convex set constraint for the weight vector. The reposed convex but non-differentiable problem is solved via an iterative proximal gradient descent algorithm. The two steps are solved alternately until convergence. Experimental results show that our alternating classifier / graph learning algorithm outperforms existing graph-based methods and support vector machines with various kernels1The work is partly funded by the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 734331.
A Model for using a Course Management System to Develop Web-Based Learning Courses and Environments

The use of web-based learning (WBL) environments in higher-education institutions is escalating, with a need for more. Ideally, the design and development of WBL should be done by a multi-skilled professional team. However, resources are scarce, so pressure is placed on academics to develop WBL themselves, although many do not have the required skills in e-learning design. The process can be facilitated if they use a systematic development methodology. This paper presents an eight-step, yet flexible, model to support the individual educator using a course management system. The model was applied to develop and implement a WBL environment for a blended-learning course at a South African university. We describe both the development process and evaluation of the resulting product, which also have generic implications for using the model.
Correlates of burrow location in Beechey ground squirrels

— Partial correlation analysis indicates that Beechey ground squirrels show a strong preference for digging burrows under and around large objects, ma>show a weaker tendency to locate tJieir burrows under the cover of tree canopies, and avoid digging burrows in areas with both treecanopy and ground cover (stones, logs). These relationships hold for large but not. small burrow systems. The need for unobstructed visual surveillance and an autumn food supply are proposed to be detenninants of tliese preferences. Beeche}' ground squirrels {Spermophilus beecheyi) appear to show preferences for areas with certain characteristics for the location of their burrows. At least three factors have been suggested to affect the choice of burrow sites: (1) burrows are often constructed under large objects such as stones or logs (Linsdale 1946: 9); (2) good drainage is said to be iinportant, which is best provided by sloping terrain (Tomich 1962); (3) burrows often seem to be concentrated under the cover of tree canopies (Fitch 1948). One purpose of the research reported here was to quantitatively assess the relationship between burrow location and these three independent variables — ground cover (stones, logs), slope of terrain, and tree canopy cover. In addition, we felt that the effect of ground and tree cover might interact, or at least be additi^'e, in areas in which these factors physically overlapped. We therefore added a fourth independent variable (common cover) to the analysis which consisted of a measure of the amount of area having ground and tree cover in common. It is probably true, though, that burrow systems of different sizes may differ in their relationship with these variables. Small systems, for instance, may be established by young squirrels who have moved into less than optimal habitat during dispersal, or by adults for refuge from predators when feeding in the open (Fitch 1948; Carl 1971). A second purpose of this research was to divide the burrow systems into size categories for
Millennial-scale dynamics of the East Asian winter monsoon during the last 200

The primary productivity dynamics of the last 200,000 years in the Sulu Sea was reconstructed using the abundance of the coccolithophore Florisphaera profunda in the IMAGES MD97-2141 core. We find that primary productivity was enhanced during glacial periods, which we suggest is due to a stronger East Asian winter monsoon. During the last 80 kyr, eight significant increases in primary productivity (PP) in the Sulu Sea are similar to East Asian winter monsoon changes recorded in Chinese loess. The PP maxima are not linked with Heinrich events (HE) in the North Atlantic, although four PP peaks are synchronous with HE. The PP oscillations have frequencies near those of the Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles in Northern Hemisphere ice records and indicate a teleconnection of the East Asian winter monsoon with Greenland climate. In this Sulu Sea record the East Asian winter monsoon oscillates with periodicities of6, 4.2-3.4, 2.3, and 1.5 kyr. In particular, the 1.5 kyr cycle exhibits a strong and pervasive signal from stage 6 to the Holocene without any ice volume modulation. This stationarity suggests that the 1.5 kyr cycle is not driven by some high-latitude forcing.
Single-sided device for magnetic particle imaging

Recently, a new imaging modality called magnetic particle imaging (MPI) was introduced. The method is capable of imaging the distribution of superparamagnetic nanoparticles at high sensitivity, high resolution and high imaging speed by exploiting their non-linear magnetization curve. Up to now, all published simulation as well as experimental work uses a scanner setup, where the field of view (FOV) lies in between a symmetric coil configuration. This, however, poses a size limitation for the specimens. In this paper, we present a feasibility study of a new, so-called single-sided scanner, which is applied to the object of interest merely from one side. Thus, the problem of the specimen fitting into the scanner no longer exists, which denotes a major step for MPI. To date, the FOV of the single-sided device is limited to one dimension. First experimental results on imaging phantoms containing a superparamagnetic fluid show a resolution of up to 1 mm and are indeed promising.
Visualisation techniques, human perception and the built environment

Historically, architecture has a wealth of visualisation techniques that have evolved throughout the period of structural design, with Virtual Reality (VR) being a relatively recent addition to the toolbox. To date the effectiveness of VR has been demonstrated from conceptualisation through to final stages and maintenance, however, its full potential has yet to be realised (Bouchlaghem et al, 2005). According to Dewey (1934), perceptual integration was predicted to be transformational; as the observer would be able to ‘engage’ with the virtual environment. However, environmental representations are predominately focused on the area of vision, regardless of evidence stating that the experience is multi sensory. In addition, there is a marked lack of research exploring the complex interaction of environmental design and the user, such as the role of attention or conceptual interpretation. This paper identifies the potential of VR models to aid communication for the Built Environment with specific reference to human perception issues.
A Measurement of the Rate of Type Ia Supernovae at Redshift z ≈ 0.1 from the First Season of the SDSS-II Supernova Survey

We present a measurement of the rate of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) from the first of three seasons of data from the SDSS-II Supernova Survey. For this measurement, we include 17 SNe Ia at redshift z ⩽ 0.12. Assuming a flat cosmology with Ωm = 0.3 = 1 − ΩΛ, we find a volumetric SN Ia rate of [ 2.93+ 0.17−0.04(systematic)+ 0.90−0.71(statistical) ] × 10−5 SNe Mpc −3 h370 yr −1, at a volume-weighted mean redshift of 0.09. This result is consistent with previous measurements of the SN Ia rate in a similar redshift range. The systematic errors are well controlled, resulting in the most precise measurement of the SN Ia rate in this redshift range. We use a maximum likelihood method to fit SN rate models to the SDSS-II Supernova Survey data in combination with other rate measurements, thereby constraining models for the redshift evolution of the SN Ia rate. Fitting the combined data to a simple power-law evolution of the volumetric SN Ia rate, rV ∝ (1 + z)β, we obtain a value of β = 1.5 ± 0.6, i.e., the SN Ia rate is determined to be an increasing function of redshift at the ~2.5 σ level. Fitting the results to a model in which the volumetric SN rate is rV = Aρ(t) + Bρ̇(t), where ρ (t) is the stellar mass density and ρ̇(t) is the star formation rate, we find A = (2.8 ± 1.2) × 10−14 SNe M−1☉ yr −1, B = (9.3+ 3.4−3.1) × 10−4 SNe M−1☉.