Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
QUANTITATIVE ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF SHORTFIN MAKO SHARK ( ISURUS OXYRINCHUS ) : PROPOSED MODEL AND APPLICATION EXAMPLE

Most of the world’s catches of sharks are incidentally taken by tuna fishing gear, constituting bycatches that increase the extinction risk of several species of shark. This not only alters ecosystem functions by removing top predators, but may also hinder the industry production itself due to cutoff measures set by authorities. This paper focuses on the female population abundance of a very important bycatch species, the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), and proposes a stochastic model for quantitative risk assessment under varying harvest regimes and control measures. The proposed model can be applied to any shortfin mako shark population by changing initial conditions and harvest parameters. The flexibility of the model makes it practicable to simulate hundreds of scenarios, analyse and compare the most relevant results such as the risk of extinction caused by a given harvest regime, median time to extinction, expected minimum biomass, risk of low harvest, and risk reduction caused by control measure; these outcomes are useful for rational decisions under uncertainty. We present an application example as a means to demonstrate how the proposed model can be used to drive management decisions for sustainable tuna harvest.
Long-Term Shifts of the Zooplankton Community in The Western Black Sea (Cape Galata Transect, Bulgarian Coast)

The aim of the current study was to assess the state and long-term trends since 1967 till 2005 of zooplankton communities of the Western Black Sea (c. Galata transect Bulgarian region) as a response to anthropogenic and environmental shifts. Zooplankton revealed important year to year fluctuations in density and it daecreased as a function of distance from the coast to open sea. Higher abundance variations at the coastal stations in comparison with the offshore once, suggested that zooplankton community and assemblages could be more influenced and disturbed by the anthropogenic and climatic effects. The standard CUSUM procedure and anomalies were used to detect changes with time. Two main periods of zooplankton community development, before and after 1973 were distinguished as indication of anomalies in certain periods and coincided with phases of the Black Sea ecosystem development. The temporal distribution pattern is similar for all stations and shows decreasing trend for the whole study period. Variability of mesozooplankton community attributes (abundance, taxonomic structure, annual dynamics) appeared vulnerable to external forcing, resulting in unsteady standing stock especially for the coastal waters where the influence of local drivers is significant.
Lived Experiences of Parents of School-Aged Children with Hearing Impairment in North Trinidad

Aim:The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of parents living with hearing impaired children in north Trinidad. This study emanated as a result of the researchers’ cursory observation in dealing with the parents of the children with hearing impairment. Methods:An exploratory phenomenological study was undertaken to document the unique experiences of these group of parents. An institution of the hearing impaired was identified and parents of the children within school-aged were engaged in the study. Triangulation of different strategies namely 3 focused group interviews and 3 face-to-face interviews was utilised to collect data from 25 parents. The data was audiotaped, transcribed and organised in themes. Results:The organized themes represented the main findings of the study. The emerging themes include reliance on spirituality to cope, communication challenges, and need for supportive environment among others. Discussion:The implications of the results were discussed in particular reference to literature and policies in Trinidad and Tobago.
Multiwavelength observations of the field HS 47.5/22 in Ursa Major - I. The X–ray catalogue of a medium deep ROSAT survey

We present the X–ray source catalogue obtained from a ROSAT survey in the HQS field HS 47.5/22. The survey consists of 48 overlapping PSPC pointings which were first analysed individually, and then merged to increase the sensitivity. Both modes bring forth sources missed in the other, showing that both are necessary to detect all X–ray sources in the field. The final catalogue contains 574 X–ray sources. The identifications are mainly based on the HQS objective prism plate which allows object classification down to a magnitude $\rm {\it m}_b\, \raisebox{0.4ex}{$<$}\raisebox{-0.4ex}{$\! \! \! \! \! \! \;\sim$}\,18\hbox{$. \! \! ^{\rm m}$}5$, and a rough distinction between red and blue objects more than a magnitude deeper. Follow–up observations were performed for a number of objects, mainly faint quasar candidates.
Proposal of Hidden Structure Model ∗ ◎

Speech recognition faces a challenge to deal with nonlinguistic variations contained in speech signals. These variations are caused by the difference of speakers, communication channels, environment noise, etc. To overcome this difficulty, modern speech recognition approaches mainly make use of statistical methods (such as GMM and HMM) to model the distributions of acoustic features. These methods always require a large amount of data for training and can achieve relatively high recognition rates when there is a good match between training and testing data. But it is well-known that the performance of speech recognizers will drop significantly if there exists a mismatch. In our previous work [1], the third author proposed an invariant structural representation of speech which aims at removing the non-linguistic factors from speech signals. Different from classical speech models, the structural representations make use of contrastive features to model the global and dynamic aspects of speech and discard the local and static features. It can be proved that these contrastive features (f -divergences) are invariant to any invertible transformations and thus are robust to non-linguistic variations [2]. We have already demonstrated the effectiveness of this representation in ASR [3, 4], speech synthesis [5], and CALL [6]. However, the structural representation also has its limitations. A speech structure is constructed for every sequence independently. So there may exist misalignment of events. Moreover, structural representations don’t have label information for events, which makes them difficult to use for general speech recognition. To overcome these difficulties, this paper proposes Hidden Structure Model (HSM) by introducing hidden states and probabilistic analysis. Compared with the previous structural representation, HSM unifies structure construction and structure comparison into a single framework, and avoids the misalignment of events. Moreover, the introduction of hidden states allows HSM to conduct structure-based decoding. This further allows us to apply HSM to general phoneme recognition other than word recognition. HSM is similar to HMM in a sense that both make use of hidden states, but different from HMM in a sense that HSM contains the probability models of both locally absolute and globally contrastive features. This paper proposes the fundamental formulation of HSM and develops the algorithms for state inference, probability calculation and parameter estimation. We carry out two experiments on artificial data and connected Japanese vowel utterances. The experimental results indicate that the combination of both absolute and contrastive features in HSM can improve the recognition rates.
POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC FINDINGS ON FAR-EAST ASIAN CHILD PATIENTS WITH SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING

Summary Many issues on sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children remain to be elucidated. This study summarized polysomnographic data on far-east Asian child patients with suspected SDB. We analyzed labor breathing index (LBI), the desaturation time (DT), SaO2 nadir, and obstructive apnea index (OAI) on a single night polysomnography. Eighty-four initial recordings obtained in 84 children (mean age, 64.3 months; rang, 5-196) before adenotonsillectomy were divided into two groups according to their age at 40 months; the younger (n=17) and older (n=67) groups. OAI in the older group showed moderately elevated coefficients of correlation in absolute values with DT, SaO2 nadir, and LBIs. In contrast, OAI in the younger group showed high absolute values of correlation coefficients with SaO2 nadir, and LBIs, and revealed a very low correlation coefficient with DT. SaO2 nadir was often recorded during REMS, and a median OAI value was higher during rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) than during nonREMS. In eight pairs of records obtained before and after the adenotonsillectomy, not all parameters were changed into better values, although clinical improvement was obvious in all patients after the surgery. Forty months of age is a key age to consider the pathophysiology of SDB in children. SDB in children is a REMS-related disease. We have to pay more attention to SDB in children and have to treat them in order to secure their healthy lives in future.
1 0 M ar 2 01 1 From SICs and MUBs to Eddington

Abstract. This is a survey of some very old knowledge about Mutually Unbiased Bases (MUB) and Symmetric Informationally Complete POVMs (SIC). In prime dimensions the former are closely tied to an elliptic normal curve symmetric under the Heisenberg group, while the latter are believed to be orbits under the Heisenberg group in all dimensions. In dimensions 3 and 4 the SICs are understandable in terms of elliptic curves, but a general statement escapes us. The geometry of the SICs in 3 and 4 dimensions is discussed in some detail.
Mapeamento de óxidos de ferro usando imagens Landsat-8/OLI e EO-1/Hyperion nos depósitos ferríferos da Serra Norte, Província Mineral de Carajás, Brasil

Mapping methods for iron oxides and clay minerals, using Landsat-8/Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Earth Observing 1 (EO-1)/Hyperion imagery integrated with airborne geophysical data, were applied in the N4, N5, and N4WS iron deposits, Serra Norte, Carajas, Brazil. Band ratios were achieved on Landsat-8/OLI imagery, allowing the recognition of the main minerals from iron deposits. The Landsat-8/OLI imagery showed a robust performance for iron oxide exploration, even in vegetated shrub areas. Feature extraction and Spectral Angle Mapper hyperspectral classification methods were carried out on EO-1/Hyperion imagery with good results for mapping high-grade iron ore, the hematite-goethite ratio, and clay minerals from regolith. The EO-1/Hyperion imagery proved an excellent tool for fast remote mineral mapping in open-pit areas, as well as mapping waste and tailing disposal facilities. An unsupervised classification was carried out on a data set consisting of EO-1/Hyperion visible near-infrared 74 bands, Landsat-8/OLI-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging-derived Digital Terrain Model, and high-resolution airborne geophysical data (gamma ray spectrometry, Tzz component of gradiometric gravimetry data). This multisource classification proved to be an adequate alternative for mapping iron oxides in vegetated shrub areas and to enhance the geology of the regolith and mineralized areas.
Ionospheric long-term trends: can the geomagnetic control and the greenhouse hypotheses be reconciled?

The ionospheric F2-layer parameter long-term trends are considered from the geomagnetic control concept and the greenhouse hypothesis points of view. It is stressed that long-term geomagnetic activity variations are crucial for ionosphere long-term trends, as they determine the basic nat- ural pattern of foF2 and hmF2 long-term variations. The ge- omagnetic activity effects should be removed from the ana- lyzed data to obtain real trends in ionospheric parameters, but this is not usually done. Only a thermosphere cooling, which is accepted as an explanation for the neutral density decrease, cannot be reconciled with negative foF2 trends revealed for the same period. A more pronounced decrease of the O/N2 ratio is required which is not provided by empirical thermo- spheric models. Thermospheric cooling practically cannot be seen in foF2 trends, due to a weak NmF2 dependence on neutral temperature; therefore, foF2 trends are mainly con- trolled by geomagnetic activity long-term variations. Long- term hmF2 variations are also controlled by geomagnetic ac- tivity variations, as both parameters, NmF2 and hmF2 are re- lated by the F2-layer formation mechanism. But hmF2 is very sensitive to neutral temperature changes, so strongly damped hmF2 long-term variations observed at Slough after 1972 may be considered as a direct manifestation of the ther- mosphere cooling. Earlier revealed negative hmF2 trends in western Europe, where magnetic declination D 0), can be related to westward thermospheric wind whose role has been enhanced due to a competition between the thermosphere cooling (CO2 increase) and its heating under increasing geomagnetic activ- ity after the end of the 1960s.
Peripheral cytokine and chemokine alterations in depression: an up-dated meta-analysis of 82 studies

Background: Evidence indicates that peripheral immune activation plays a role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). Here we performed an up-dated meta-analysis of studies that measured cytokine and chemokine levels in individuals with MDD compared to healthy controls (HCs). Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that measured cytokine and chemokine levels in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to healthy controls (HCs). Method: The PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycInfo databases were searched up until May 30 th , 2016. Effect sizes were estimated with random-effects models. Result: Eighty-two studies comprising 3212 participants with MDD and 2798 HCs met inclusion criteria. Peripheral levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-10, the soluble IL-2 receptor, C-C chemokine ligand 2, IL-13, IL-18, IL-12, the IL-1 receptor antagonist, and the soluble TNF receptor 2 were elevated in patients with MDD compared to HCs, whereas interferon-gamma levels were lower in MDD (Hedge’s g = -0.477, P = 0.043). Levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, the soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), IL-5, CCL-3, IL-17, transforming growth factor beta 1 were not significantly altered in individuals with MDD compared to HCs. Heterogeneity was large ( I 2 : 51.6 to 97.7%), and sources of heterogeneity were explored (e.g., age, smoking status and body mass index). Conclusion: Our results further characterize a cytokine/chemokine profile associated with MDD. Future studies are warranted to further elucidate sources of heterogeneity, as well as biosignature cytokines secreted by other immune cells.
PRICE SETTING OF MARKET MAKERS: A FILTERING PROBLEM WITH ENDOGENOUS FILTRATION

This paper studies the price‐setting problem of market makers under risk neutrality and perfect competition in continuous time. The classic approach of Glosten–Milgrom is followed. Bid and ask prices are defined as conditional expectations of a true value of the asset given the market makers' partial information that includes the customers' trading decisions. The true value is modeled as a Markov process that can be observed by the customers with some noise at Poisson times. A mathematically rigorous analysis of the price‐setting problem is carried out, solving a filtering problem with endogenous filtration that depends on the bid and ask price processes quoted by the market maker. The existence and uniqueness of the bid and ask price processes is shown under some conditions.
Wear Properties of Multi-Layered Materials

The usage of fabrics as reinforcements in composite s is spreading due to fabrics’ properties. The use of fabrics allows obtaining of sinuous surf aces, for instance, unlike the use of prepregs. Using fabrics as reinforcements it is also p ossible to obtain laminate-like materials having the same matrix in all their volume. In the case of pre-pregs usage always it is necessary to discuss about the bonding between individual pli es. For this study eight materials were formed. The forming method consisted in placing the pre-polymer imbued fabric pieces into a mould to obtain plates of composites. Two types of fabric were used: one simple type of untwisted tows of carbon fibres and the second one simple type of alternated untwisted tows of carbon and aramide fibres. Both fabrics were prepar ed in order to ensure the matrix adherence. The polymer matrix is realised from epox y system EPIPHEN RE 4020 / EPIPHEN DE 4020 filled with clay and talc in equal amounts of 5% (weight ratio). The use of clay and talc were meant to improve the thermal dimensional st bility of final materials. Tribological properties of formed materials were studied using p in-on-disk method with steel disk and pins made of materials. Both orientation of reinforcemen t fibres relative to friction direction were taken into account. Results are encouraging further studies in order to identify the best solution of forming a multi-component material with more tha n one designable property.
PATRIARCHY AND HIGHER EDUCATION: ORGANIZING AROUND MASCULINITIES AND MISOGYNY ON CANADIAN CAMPUSES

The spread of “men’s rights” organizations on Canadian university campuses raises several important questions. What can be learnt about the relationship between men’s rights organizations, institutions of higher education, and the broader conceptualization of feminisms, masculinities, and patriarchies? I argue that just as the academy has provided a space for the emergence of broader and innovative understandings of masculinities, so too has it provided a uniquely fertile terrain for the emergence of reactionary and patriarchal responses to those innovations, which appropriate the conceptual frameworks and language of feminism and intersectionality. An initial consideration of this process situates the academy as an important and formative space in the shaping of those conceptual frameworks which underpin broader social struggles over gendered roles and practices.
Aphid species composition in populations from citrus orchards in a region of the island of Crete

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is one of the most serious diseases affecting citrus trees worldwide. CTV is dispersed in the field by various aphid species at different transmission efficiencies. As a result, any information about aphid species composition in citrus orchards is essential for epidemic prognosis and disease management. CTV was firstly detected in Greece in 2000 but, extended information on the prevalence of the aphid species in CTV-infected citrus orchards is currently missing. Here, we report data from an 8-year survey carried out over the last decade on the aphid species frequencies infesting citrus orchards in the only CTV transmission hot-spot (Chania region) of the island of Crete. In 9,500 wingless adult females collected mainly in spring-early summer, five aphid species were recorded, including the second most efficient CTV vector Aphis gossypii Glover, and the less efficient vectors Aphis spiraecola Patch, Aphis aurantii (Boyer de Fonsicolombe), Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Aphis craccivora Koch. Aphis citricidus (Kirkaldy), the most efficient vector of CTV, was not detected. In all years, the most prevalent species was A. spiraecola (mean frequency 82.5%) followed by A. gossypii (mean frequency 13.5%), which was recorded in six of the eight years of the survey. Both species may play a significant role to the CTV spread in Chania region. As the determination of aphid transmission efficiencies for the prominent CTV isolate (GR-1825) is pending, the current study brings forward a panel of five CTV-aphid vector species in this area. The presence of the relatively efficient vector A. gossypii at low-moderate frequencies, in a CTV hotspot is a matter of concern and while monitoring and eradication of CTV infected trees continues, a first detection of A. citricidus or any increase of the A. gossypii prevalence would have a negative impact on containment measures.
FOR EARTHQUAKE HAZARD MAPPING IN THE OTTAWA AREA

The seismic provisions of the National Building Code of Canada 2005 reflect the possibility that significant earthquake shaking can occur in the Ottawa area. A joint demonstration study by Carleton University and the Geological Survey of Canada is currently underway to measure the shear wave properties of geological units in the Ottawa area, Ontario. This work is designed to improve our knowledge of the properties of soft soils in the Ottawa Valley region in order to better estimate and map earthquake amplification and resonance effects. Results to date indicate that there are large shear wave velocity contrasts between glacial and postglacial surficial geological units as well as major local variation in unit thicknesses. Prediction and mapping of fundamental site periods and associated resonant peak amplitudes also reveal large variability, reflecting these same factors. Monitoring of ambient seismic noise of both local and teleseismic earthquake events has confirmed the estimated weak motion ground response. Overall, it is expected that a significant earthquake in the Ottawa area will generate variable shaking intensities spatially because of differing thicknesses and geotechnical properties of the glacial and post-glacial sediments that overlie the bedrock of the region. Mapping of earthquake amplification parameters and site period response for the Ottawa area is planned for completion in 2009.
Instability of gravity wetting fronts for Richards equations with hysteresis

We study the evolution of saturation profiles in a porous medium. When there is a more saturated medium on top of a less saturated medium, the effect of gravity is a downward motion of the liquid. While in experiments the effect of fingering can be observed, i.e. an instability of the planar front solution, it has been verified in different settings that the Richards equation with gravity has stable planar fronts. In the present work we analyze the Richards equation coupled to a play-type hysteresis model in the capillary pressure relation. Our result is that, in an appropriate geometry and with adequate initial and boundary conditions, the planar front solution is unstable. In particular, we find that the Richards equation with gravity and hysteresis does not define an L-contraction.