Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statistical analysis of C/NOFS planar Langmuir probe data

Abstract. The planar Langmuir probe (PLP) onboard the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite has been monitoring ionospheric plasma densities and their irregularities with high resolution almost seamlessly since May 2008. Considering the recent changes in status of the C/NOFS mission, it may be interesting to summarize some statistical results from these measurements. PLP data from 2 different years (1 October 2008–30 September 2009 and 1 January 2012–31 December 2012) were selected for analysis. The first data set corresponds to solar minimum conditions and the second one is as close to solar maximum conditions of solar cycle 24 as possible at the time of the analysis. The results from the analysis show how the values of the standard deviation of the ion density which are greater than specified thresholds are statistically distributed as functions of several combinations of the following geophysical parameters: (i) solar activity, (ii) altitude range, (iii) longitude sector, (iv) local time interval, (v) geomagnetic latitude interval, and (vi) season.
Game Theoretic Optimization of Detecting Malicious Behavior

Machine learning classifiers are used in security applications such as fraud detection or intrusion detection in computer networks. In applications of this kind the classified entities tend to evolve in time attempting to avoid detection. However, classical machine learning methods fail to address the issue, assuming that future observations would follow the same distribution as training data. Based on related work we analyze possible attacks against a classifier arising due to this limitation and survey existing approaches to deal with the attacks. We discuss that rather than ignoring the adaptivity and repairing the damage once it occurs, it is more advantageous to model the adversary by means of game theory and mitigate his ability to cause the damage in a predictive manner. Yet, we identify a gap between practical requirements on adversarial classifiers and properties of the present methods for game theoretic optimization of detecting malicious behavior. In this thesis we develop an approach filling the gap. Practical applicability of the method was enforced by the collaboration with the Security Division of O2 Czech Republic telecommunications company: the novel method was developed as an improvement for the company’s internal fraud detection system. As a result, the devised method can be applied to any binary classifier as a black box, not limiting the modeling power of the used machine learning algorithm. Moreover, the approach enables restricting a false alarm rate, satisfying a crucial requirement in the security domain. Furthermore, the model takes into consideration the fact that there are different types of adversaries. In addition, both variability of the adversary types and utilities in the model are derived based on collected data, minimizing hypotheses unfounded with observations. The model also addresses the bounded rationality of adversaries. As part of the approach, we develop efficient algorithms for computation of several solution concepts: Nash equilibrium, Stackelberg equilibrium and Stackelberg equilibrium under the restriction on false alarm rate. Thanks to the algorithms efficiency the approach is expected to remain applicable in case of large datasets. Finally, the efficacy of the developed approach is demonstrated via extensive experimental evaluation. Using data from real-world intrusion detection classifiers, it is shown that the developed algorithms are superior compared to available alternatives. Next, on the case of O2 Czech Republic fraud detection it is demonstrated that the developed method preserves out-of-sample performance of the classifier without the game theoretic optimization, while improving robustness of the classification when the attacker behaves in accordance with the model.
Agronomic properties and nutritional status of plum trees (Prunus domestica L.) influenced by different cultivars

The tree growth, fruit weight and leaf mineral status of ten plum cultivars grafted on rootstock of autochthonous plum 'Belosljiva' under high density planting system (HDP) on acidic soil was investigated in the fifth and sixth leaf. Results indicated that tree vigour, fruit weight and productivity significantly depend on the cultivar. 'Cacanska Najbolja' had the most vigorous trees, while 'Cacanska Lepotica' had the smallest. The fruit weight was the highest in 'Cacanska Rana', and the lowest in 'd'Agen'. 'Stanley' was the most productive cultivar in 2006 and 'Cacanska Rodna' in 2007. Yield efficiency was the highest in 'Cacanska Lepotica' and the lowest in 'Ruth Gerstetter', 'Cacanska Rana', 'Cacanska Najbolja' and 'Opal', respectively. Significant differences were observed among cultivars for leaf major nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) levels at 120 DAFB. Larger imbalance of leaf major elements was observed in 'd'Agen', whereas good balance was found in 'Violeta'.
How Can Regulation be Enhanced? New Perspectives on the Causes and Continuation of Franchising Conflict in Australia

Although federal Australian franchising sector regulation promotes franchise system disclosure and provides for mandatory conflict mediation, there is some concern that inequities exist within the conflict management process. As a result regulators are reviewing existing regulation and investigating alternative dispute resolution options in an attempt to proactively manage franchising conflict. Central to this process is identifying the sources of conflict in the franchising relationship. Conflict refers to the existence of deep underlying differences between involved parties that result in responses to potential or actual obstructions that impede one or more parties from realising their goals. This inductive research extends the conflict literature in dyadic exchange relationships through investigating antecedent influences upon franchising conflict from the franchisor and franchisee perspectives. A total of 24 interviews was conducted with lawyers, mediators, brokers, franchisors, franchisee advocates, franchise consultants, franchising academics, franchisor industry representatives and franchising media representatives. The key findings suggest that a lack of due diligence is associated with the formation of unrealistic expectations which increases the potential for future relational conflict. Although franchising experience impacts upon operational approaches and conflict, the role played by third parties and market conditions both appear to exacerbate dissatisfaction in most franchise systems. The concept maps and preliminary conceptual models presented in this paper will be tested in a large quantitative survey of key franchising stakeholders in the near future.
Human Development Index (HDI) and its family of indexes: an evolving critical review

The human development index (HDI) is currently used for many different purposes, from a comparative index to a decision-making instrument for public policy decisions. It is also used as a 'blaming and shaming' index in the media. For this reason, in this paper we delve into the foundations of the HDI, exploring to what extent it can be considered an alternative to the use of the gross national product (GNP) as the main measure of human development. Our focus is mainly on the HDI and its evolution and unsolved technical issues. Was the HDI successful as an alternative? Given that the established goal was to provide an alternative index to the unidimensional and income centred previous indicators, HDI represents indeed advancement, both in terms of the characterisation of the multidimensional nature of development and in terms of its refined theoretical basis. On the other hand, arguments claiming the introduction of a completely new paradigm, showing a change from the concentration on means towards the promotion of human ends, are far from being settled. The claim that HDI is a capability measure, considered the most basic human capabilities, also remains elusive.
Multidecadal Variability of the Overturning Circulation in Presence of Eddy Turbulence

At low-resolution, idealized ocean circulation models forced by prescribed differential surface heat fluxes show spontaneous multidecadal variability depending critically on eddy diffusivity coefficients. The existence of this critical threshold in the range of observational estimates legitimates some doubt on the relevance of such intrinsic oscillations in the real ocean. Through a series of numerical simulations with increasing resolution up to eddy-resolving ones (10 km) and various diapycnal diffusivities, this multidecadal variability proves a generic ubiquitous feature, at least in model versions with a flat bottom. The mean circulation largely changes in the process of refining the horizontal grid (along with the associated implicit viscosity and diffusivity), and the spatial structure of the variability is largely modified, but there is no clear influence of the resolution on the main oscillation period. The interdecadal variability appears even more robust to low vertical diffusivity and overturning when mesoscale eddies are resolved. The mechanism previously proposed for these oscillations, involving westward-propagating baroclinically unstable Rossby waves in the subpolar region and its feedback on the mean circulation, appears unaffected by mesoscale turbulence and is simply displaced following the polar front.
A Multicase Comparative Assessment of the Ensemble Kalman Filter for Assimilation of Radar Observations. Part II: Short-Range Ensemble Forecasts

The quality of convective-scale ensemble forecasts, initialized from analysis ensembles obtained through the assimilation of radar observations using an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), is investigated for cases whose behaviors span supercellular, linear, and multicellular organization. This work is the companion to Part I, which focused on the quality of analyses during the 60-min analysis period. Here, the focus is on 30-min ensemble forecasts initialized at the end of that period. As in Part I, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is employed as a simplified cloud model at 2-km horizontal grid spacing. Various observationspace and state-space verification metrics, computed both for ensemble means and individual ensemble members, are employed to assess the quality of ensemble forecasts comparatively across cases. While the cases exhibit noticeable differences in predictability, the forecast skill in each case, as measured by various metrics, decays on a time scale of tens of minutes. The ensemble spread also increases rapidly but significant outlier members or clustering among members are not encountered. Forecast quality is seen to be influenced to varying degrees by the respective initial soundings. While radar data assimilation is able to partially mitigate some of the negative effects in some situations, the supercell case, in particular, remains difficult to predict even after 60 min of data assimilation.
The role of olfaction in wireworms: a review on their foraging behavior and sensory apparatus

Introduction. Integrated management of wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) depends upon approaches applied both above- and belowground, and over several spatial scales. While foraging, these soil pests use biotic and abiotic signals to orientate towards target plant organs. Development of efficient techniques for implementation in integrated strategies relies upon improved knowledge of this process. In particular, an important step consists of elucidating the role of volatile organic compounds (VOC), emitted by belowground plant organs, in wireworm chemical ecology. This would have a positive impact on push-pull strategies and varietal selection developed against these insects. Literature. In this work, we summarized the available data regarding wireworm foraging behavior as well as variables that should be considered when studying the potential role of plant-produced volatile semiochemicals. This includes CO2 gradients and other host-related cues, temperature, relative humidity and soil moisture, and wireworm physiological stage. We also review what is known of the sensory apparatus of wireworms, since this is involved in every step of the foraging process. Conclusion. Some baseline data for studying VOC related wireworm foraging behavior exists. Using it as a tool in applied entomology should result in discovery of the semiochemicals that underpin trophic interactions involving these pests. However, most of the key pest species are not fully described with regards to the parameters detailed here. Obtaining accurate information to fill the current knowledge gaps will be needed in order to devise new integrated management strategies.
Towards Aerosol Light-Absorption Measurements with a 7-Wavelength Aethalometer: Evaluation with a Photoacoustic Instrument and 3-Wavelength Nephelometer

Two extreme cases of aerosol optics from the Reno Aerosol Optics Experiment are used to develop a model-based calibration scheme for the 7-wavelength aethalometer. The cases include those of very white and very dark aerosol samples. The former allows for an assessment of the scattering offset associated with this filter-based method, with the wavelength-dependent scattering measured from a 3-wavelength nephelometer, and interpolated and extrapolated to the 7 wavelengths of the aethalometer. A photoacoustic instrument operating at 532 nm is used to evaluate the filter loading effect caused by aerosol light absorption. Multiple scattering theory is used to analytically obtain a filter-loading correction function. This theory shows that the exponential behavior of light absorption in the strong multiple scattering limit scales as the square root of the total absorption optical depth rather than linearly with optical depth as is commonly assumed with Beer's law. The multiple scattering model also provides a theoretical justification for subtracting a small fraction of aerosol light scattering away from measured apparent light absorption by the filter method. The model is tested against ambient measurements and is found to require coefficients that are situation specific. Several hypotheses are given for this specificity, and suggested methods for reducing it are discussed. Specific findings are as follows. Simultaneous aerosol light-scattering measurements are required for accurate interpretation of aethalometer data for high aerosol single-scattering albedo. Instantaneous errors of up to ±50% are possible for uncorrected data, depending on filter loading. The aethalometer overpredicts black carbon (BC) concentration on a fresh filter and underpredicts BC on a loaded filter. BC and photoacoustic light absorption can be tightly correlated if the data are averaged over the full range of filter loadings and the aerosol source is constant. Theory predicts that the Aethalometer response may be sensitive to filter face velocity, and hence flow rate, to the extent that particle penetration depth depends on face velocity.
Mode analysis of Oxide-Confined VCSELs using near-far field approaches

We analyze the transverse mode structure of selectively oxidized ve rtical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) in the 850 nm spectral region using both near and far fiel d approaches. The relatively strong index guiding devices show a noticeable reduction of the spot si ze whereas weak index guiding devices show large spot size. Also, we report a study on the butt-coupling effi ciency of these devices using flatcut uncoated single mode fibers (SMF) with different core diam eters. The large core SMF diameter m for standard 1300 nm wavelength data transmission require a simp le filter to reduce the contribution of the excited higher order fiber modes.
Stability regions of closed loop system with time delay inertial plant of fractional order and fractional order PI controller

The paper presents the stability problem of control systems composed of a fractional-order PI controller and a inertial plant of a fractional order with time delay. Simple and efficient computational method for determining stability regions in the controller and plant parameters space is given. Knowledge of these regions permits tuning of the fractional-order PI controller. The method proposed is based on the classical D-partition method.
Multinomial Logistic Regression Approach for the Evaluation of Binary Diagnostic Test in Medical Research

Abstract Evaluating the effect of variables on diagnostic measures (sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values) is often of interest to clinical researchers. Logistic regression (LR) models can be used to predict diagnostic measures of a screening test. A marginal model framework using generalized estimating equation (GEE) with logit/log link can be used to compare the diagnostic measures between two or more screening tests. These individual modeling approaches to each diagnostic measure ignore the dependency among these measures that might affect the association of covariates with each diagnostic measure. The diagnostic measures are computed using joint distribution of screening test result and reference test result which generates a multinomial response data. Thus, multinomial logistic regression (MLR) is a more appropriate approach to modeling these diagnostic measures. In this study, the validity of LR and GEE approaches as compared to MLR model was assessed for modeling diagnostic measures. All methods provided unbiased estimates of diagnostic measures in the absence of any covariate. LR and GEE methods produced more biased estimates as compared to MLR approach especially for small sample size studies. No bias was obtained in predicting sensitivity measure using MLR method for one screening test. Our proposed MLR method is robust for modeling diagnostic measures of a screening test as opposed to LR method. MLR method and GEE method produced similar estimates of diagnostic measures for comparing two screening tests in large sample size studies. The proposed MLR model for diagnostic measures is simple, and available in common statistical software. Our study demonstrates that MLR method should be preferred as an alternative for modeling diagnostic measures.
How Web Tools Affect Efficiency and Effectiveness of Teachers and Learners

Internet and web-based tools are essential in eLearning. They can also act as a supplement to learning in campus-based environments. Such tools can bring great benefits to a teacher, or they can generate considerable overhead work resulting in a loss of efficiency and effectiveness. We identify some principles, and some practices, for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of teachers using webbased, e-Learning and e-Administration tools in a mostly campus-based learning environment. The key principles we seek in e-Learning and eAdministration tools are simplicity, versatility and a decentralized, but collaborative, mode of operation which we illustrate through case studies of our own work and that of others. We review relevant learning and assessment models, explicate the key principles for supporting the teacher's role with web-based tools, and provide numerous illustrative examples.
Typing of Erwinia Chrysanthemi isolated from josapine pineapple in Malaysia using antimicrobial susceptibility, plasmid profiles, ERIC-PCR and RFLP analysis

Ninety one leaf samples of Josapine pineapple cultivar (Kelantan, n=8; Pahang, n=20; Perak, n=11; Sabah, n=15; Johor, n=37) showing symptoms of heart rot disease were collected to determine the incidence of Erwinia chrysanthemi. Sixteen strains of E. chrysanthemi were isolated from 13 leaf samples from Pahang (n=4), Sabah (n=2) and Johor (n=7). All of the E. chrysanthemi strains displayed resistance to bacitracin with two strains showing resistance to sulfamethoxazole. None of the E. chrysanthemi strains were resistant toward ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, gentamicin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, penicillin G, streptomycin and tetracycline. All of the E. chrysanthemi strains were plasmidless. The dendrogram generated from the ERIC-PCR fingerprinting showed that the E. chrysanthemi strains formed 4 clusters and 7 single isolates at 80% similarity level. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis for 16 strains of E. chrysanthemi with HinfI and HaeIII endonuclease, 2 and 4 restriction profiles were obtained, respectively. The combinations of the four techniques were able to differentiate the 16 E. chrysanthemi strains into 14 genome types, suggesting a wide diversity of strains examined. ERICPCR fingerprinting method is found to be more discriminating and useful for the determination of the E. chrysanthemi strains relatedness.
Refutable Inference of Formal Graph Systems and NLC Graph Grammars (Models of Computation and Algorithms)

A graph is one of the most common abstract structures and is suitable for representing relations between various objects. The analyzing system directly manipulating graphs is useful for knowledge discovery. Formal Graph System (FGS) is a kind of logic programming system which directly deals with graphs just like first order terms. We have designed and implemented a knowledge discovery system KDFGS, which receives the graph data and produces a hypothesis by using FGS as a knowledge representation language. The system consists of an FGS interpreter and a refutably inductive inference algorithm for FGSs. In this paper, we show that sufficiently large hypothesis spaces of FGS programs are refutably inferable and thus give a theoretical foundation of KD-FGS. We report some experiments of running KD-FGS and confirm $\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{t}‘ \mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}\mathrm{e}$ system is useful for knowledge discovery from graph data. We also consider refutable inference of NLC graph grammars.
On the Risk of Overshooting 2°C

This article explores different greenhouse gas stabilization levels and their implied risks of overshooting certain temperature targets, such as limiting global mean temperature rise to 2°C above pre-industrial levels. The probabilistic assessment is derived from a compilation of recent estimates of the uncertainties in climate sensitivity, which summarizes the key uncertainties in climate science for long-term temperature projections. The risk of overshooting 2°C equilibrium warming is found to lie between 68% and 99% for stabilization at 550ppm CO2 equivalence. Only at levels around 400ppm CO2 equivalence are the risks of overshooting low enough so that the achievement of a 2°C target can be termed “likely”. Based on characteristics of 54 IPCC SRES and post-SRES scenarios, multi-gas emission pathways are presented that lead to stabilization at 550, 450 and 400ppm CO2eq in order to assess the implications for global emission reductions. Sensitivity studies on delayed global action show that the next 5 to 15 years might determine whether the risk of overshooting 2°C can be limited to a reasonable range.