Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preliminary Survey of Fish Community Composition in Seagrass Habitat in Two Back-Reef Lagoons of the Southern Mexican Caribbean

Little is known about seagrass fish communities in the southern Mexican Caribbean. Diurnal and nocturnal fish community structure in seagrass habitat were compared between back-reef lagoons using a visual census technique in a natural protected area within a national park (Xcalak) and an unprotected area (Mahahual). Seagrass fish communities differed significantly between the two locations in the daytime and Xcalak supported greater total fish densities. Species richness did not differ statistically between locations. Observed nighttime fish communities were characterized by low spe- cies richness and low fish abundance when compared to diurnal communities. Heavy tourist use and coastal development may have degraded seagrass habitat at Mahahual causing lower fish abundance. Also, proximity of seagrass to man- grove habitat in Xcalak may have led to increased abundance and differences in species composition between locations. More extensive analysis and monitoring of the relative functioning of back-reef habitats in these two systems is needed as coastal development and fishing pressure continue to threaten the area. RESUMEN: No se conoce mucho sobre la comunidad de peces en pastos marinos en el sur del Caribe mexicano. La estruc- tura de las comunidades de peces nocturnas y diurnas en pastos marinos se obtuvo mediante censos visuales y se compar6 entre la laguna arrecifial de un area protegida (Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak) y un area nclprotegida (Mahahual). Las comunidades de peces fueron diferentes significantemente entre 10s dos sitios durante el dia, Xcalak registr6 las mayores densidades de peces. No existe diferencia estadisticamente significativa con respecto a la riqueza de especies entre sitios. Las comunidades de peces nocturnas presentaron valores bajos de riqueza de especies y de abundancia con respecto a las comunidades diurnas. El desarrollo turistico y costero de Mahahual, podrian estar degradando el habitat de pastos marinos, y como consecuencia el registro de baias abundancia de peces. En contraste, en Xcalak, la proximidad del ecosistema de manglar adyacente a 10s pastos marinos podria estar influenciando con una mayor abundancia de peces y cambios en la composition de especies con respecto a Mahahual. Mientras en el area continue el desarrollo costero y la pesca en el area, es necesario un analisis mas extensivo (escala temporal y espacial) del funcionamiento de ambas lagunas arrecifales.
Simulation Study on the Impact of Direct Meta-Analysis Methods on Health Economic Outcomes

Background Decision-analytic cost-effectiveness (CE) models combine many different parameters like transition probabilities, event probabilities, utilities and costs, which are often obtained after meta-analysis. The method of meta-analysis may affect the CE estimate. Aim Our aim was to perform a simulation study that compares the performance of different methods of metaanalysis, especially with respect to model-based health economic (HE) outcomes. Methods A reference patient population of 50,000 was simulated from which sets of samples were drawn. Each sample drawn represented a clinical trial comparing two fictitious interventions. In several scenarios, the heterogeneity between these trials was varied, by drawing one or more of the trials from predefined subpopulations. Parameter estimates from these trials were combined using frequentist fixed (FFE) and random effects (FRE), and Bayesian fixed (BFE) and random effects (BRE) meta-analysis. The pooled parameter estimates were entered into a probabilistic cost-effectiveness Markov model. The four methods of meta-analysis resulted in different parameter estimates and HE outcomes, which were compared with the true values in the reference population. Performance statistics were: (1) the percentage of repetitions that the confidence interval of the probabilistic sensitivity analysis covers the true value (coverage), (2) the difference between the estimated and true value (bias), (3) the mean absolute value of the bias (MAD) and (4) the percentage of repetitions that result in a statistically significant difference between the two interventions (statistical power). As the differences between methods could be due to chance, we repeated every step of the analysis 1,000 times to study whether differences were systematic. Results FFE, FRE and BFE lead to different parameter estimates, but, when entered into the model, they do not lead to large differences in the point estimates of the HE outcomes, even in scenarios where we built in heterogeneity. Random effects methods do not necessarily reduce bias when heterogeneity is added to the trials, and may even increase bias in certain situations. BRE tends to overestimate uncertainty reflected in the CE acceptability curve. Conclusion FFE, FRE and BFE lead to comparable HE outcomes. BRE tends to overestimate uncertainty. Based on this study, we recommend FRE as the preferred method of meta-analysis.
Detection of spatial variability in relative density of fishes: comparison of visual census, angling, and baited underwater video

The ability to make accurate estimates of fish relative abundance is the basis of both ecological and environmental effects studies, and flawed sampling methods may give misleading results even in otherwise well-designed surveys. This paper compares surveys of snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) and blue cod Parapercis colias (Pinguipedidae) conducted using 3 methods (underwater visual census, experimental angling, and baited underwater video) inside and outside the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point marine reserve in northeastern New Zealand. Angling and baited video consistently detected adult P. auratus at protected and fished sites, providing estimates of 36.7 and 39.2 times greater density of fishable P. auratus within the reserve, respectively. Visual surveys provided the least reliable measure of density of P. auratus, with adults only detected at the reserve centre where fish have been habituated to divers by hand-feeding. Measures of the size structure of P. auratus were consistent between angling and video, but mean size was significantly smaller using visual census methods. Relative density of P. colias was similar for all 3 methods, but angling estimated larger mean size, probably due to hook selectivity against smaller fish. The study indicates that methodological standardisation across all species is not always appropriate for environmental effects studies, and that different survey methods should be considered according to the biology and behaviour of the species of interest.
European option pricing of fractional Black-Scholes model with new Lagrange multipliers

In this paper, a new identification of the Lagrange multipliers by means of the Sumudu transform, is employed to obtain a quick and accurate solution to the frac- tional Black-Scholes equation with the initial condition for a European option pricing problem. Undoubtedly this model is the most well known model for pricing financial derivatives. The fractional derivatives is described in Caputo sense. This method finds the analytical solution without any discretization or additive assumption. The analytical method has been applied in the form of convergent power series with eas- ily computable components. Some illustrative examples are presented to explain the efficiency and simplicity of the proposed method.
Simple spectral subtraction method enhances speech intelligibility in noise for cochlear implant listeners

It has been demonstrated that while clean speech is well intelligible by most cochlear implant (CI) listeners, noise quickly degrades speech intelligibility. To remedy the situation, CI manufacturers integrate noise reduction (NR) algorithms (often using multiple microphones) in their CI processors, and they report that CI users benefit from this measure. We have implemented a single-microphone NR scheme based on spectral subtraction with minimum statistics to see if such a simple algorithm can also effectively increase speech intelligibility in noise. We measured speech reception thresholds using both speech-shaped and car noise in 5 CI users and 23 normal-hearing listeners. For the latter group, CI hearing was acoustically simulated. In case of the CI users, the performance of the proposed NR algorithm was also compared to that of the CI processor’s built-in one. Our NR algorithm enhances intelligibility greatly in combination with the acoustic simulation regardless of the noise type; these effects are highly significant. For the CI users, trends agree with the above finding (for both the proposed and the built-in NR algorithms), however, due to low sample number, these differences did not reach statistical significance. We conclude that simple spectral subtraction can enhance speech intelligibility in noise for CI listeners and may even keep up with proprietary NR algorithms.
FARMERS’ BEHAVIORAL INTENTIONS TO USE MOBILE EXTENSION IN ASSIUT GOVERNORATE

Sixteen flax genotypes {13 promising lines This study aimed at: (1) knowing about farmers’ views about advantages, disadvantages of mobile extension service and their suggestions to make this prospective initiative succeed; (2) discovering farmers’ behavioral intentions to use mobile extension service in Assiut governorate; (3) determining the kind of information that farmers will need by using mobile extension service; (4) examining the effect of the six antecedents proposed by Nysveen et al(2005a) on farmers’ behavioral intentions to use mobile extension service. Data were collected by questionnaire from 233 farmers randomly selected from two villages in Assiut governorate. The results showed the advantages, disadvantages of mobile extension service from the viewpoint of the respondents and their suggestions to make this prospective initiative succeed. It came out that the respondents have positive intentions to use mobile extension, and their prospective behavior proceeds to use mobile extension service if it comes into existence. It cleared up that the information needs of farmers by using mobile extension were related to market information (prices, and demand indicators) and know-how information (what to plant and which seed varieties to use). It became clear that the model of Nysveen et al (2005a) was overall significant and the six antecedents of behavioral intentions significantly explains 71% of variance in farmers’ behavioral intentions to use mobile extension service. Finally, based on the results of this study, major recommendations are derived for the potential producers when developing the prospective mobile extension service
Adsorption of As(V) from aqueous solution by chemically doped coir pith carbon

The present work examines the possible use of coir pith, a by-product from coir fibre industry as a means of removing As(V) from aqueous solution. Kinetic and equilibrium experiments were performed in order to evaluate the efficiency of the thermally activated coir pith carbon (TCPC). The efficiency of TCPC was improved by doping with FeSO4.7H2O (FCPC) and CuSO4.5H2O (CCPC). Adsorption studies were carried out using these doped and undoped coir pith carbon. Maximum removal was observed with FCPC with a Qo value of 18.9 mg/g followed by CCPC with Qo value of 14.77 mg/g at maximum As(V) concentration. TCPC was comparatively less efficient when compared to the doped adsorbents and had a Qo value of 8.39 mg/g. The rate of adsorption was dependent on the As(V) concentration. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were applied and the experimental data fitted well with these isotherms. The desorption and regeneration studies revealed that FCPC after regeneration could remove 62.8% As(V) when recycled. The results indicate that FCPC could be used as an effective adsorbent for As(V) removal from ground water sample.
Using Coh-Metrix to assess differences between English language varieties

This study examined differences between the written, national language varieties of the United States and Great Britain, specifically in texts regarding the topic of Law. The few previous studies that have dealt with differences between the dialects of the United States and Great Britain have focused on shallow-level features, such as lexis, subject-verb agreement, and even orthography. In contrast, this study uses the computational tool, Coh-Metrix, to distinguish British from American discourse features within one highly similar genre, Anglo-American legal cases. We conducted a discriminant function analysis along five indices of cohesion on a specially constructed corpus to show those differences in over 400 American and English/Welsh legal cases. Our results suggest substantial differences between the language varieties, casting doubt on previous generalizations about British and American writing that predict that the national varieties would vary more by genre than by language variety. Our results also offer guidance to materials developers of legal English for international purposes (such as in the E.U.) and drafters of international legal documents for producing effective and appropriate materials.
Evaluating the potential for remote bathymetric mapping of a turbid, sand‐bed river: 1. Field spectroscopy and radiative transfer modeling

Remote sensing offers an efficient means of mapping bathymetry in river systems, but this approach has been applied primarily to clear‐flowing, gravel bed streams. This study used field spectroscopy and radiative transfer modeling to assess the feasibility of spectrally based depth retrieval in a sand‐bed river with a higher suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and greater water turbidity. Attenuation of light within the water column was characterized by measuring the amount of downwelling radiant energy at different depths and calculating a diffuse attenuation coefficient, Kd. Attenuation was strongest in blue and near‐infrared bands due to scattering by suspended sediment and absorption by water, respectively. Even for red wavelengths with the lowest values of Kd, only a small fraction of the incident light propagated to the bed, restricting the range of depths amenable to remote sensing. Spectra recorded above the water surface were used to establish a strong, linear relationship (R2 = 0.949) between flow depth and a simple band ratio; even under moderately turbid conditions, depth remained the primary control on reflectance. Constraints on depth retrieval were examined via numerical modeling of radiative transfer within the atmosphere and water column. SSC and sensor radiometric resolution limited both the maximum detectable depth and the precision of image‐derived depth estimates. Thus, although field spectra indicated that the bathymetry of turbid channels could be remotely mapped, model results implied that depth retrieval in sediment‐laden rivers would be limited to shallow depths (on the order of 0.5 m) and subject to a significant degree of uncertainty.
FAST COMMUNICATION TOPOLOGY PRESERVING ACTIVE CONTOURS

Abstract. Active contours models are variational methods for segmenting complex scenes using edge or regional information. Many of these models employ the level set method to numerically minimize a given energy, which provides a simple representation for the resulting curve evolution problem. During the evolution, the curve can merge or break, thus these methods tend to have steady state solutions which are not homeomorphic to the initial condition. In many applications, the topology of the edge set is known, and thus can be enforced. In this work, we combine a topology preserving variational term with the region based active contour models in order to segment images with known structure. The advantage of this method over current topology preserving methods is its ability to locate boundaries of objects and not only edges. This is particularly useful for highly textured or noisy data.
PLATINUM-GROUP MINERALS IN CHROMITITE XENOLITHS FROM THE ONVERWACHT AND TWEEFONTEIN ULTRAMAFIC PIPES, EASTERN BUSHVELD COMPLEX, SOUTH AFRICA

Les pipes ultramafiques de Onverwacht et Tweefontein, dans la partie orientale du complexe de Bushveld, en Afrique du Sud, contiennent de petits xenolithes de chromitite qui auraient ete derives des niveaux de chromitite LG6 et MG4, et detaches lors de la mise en place des pipes. Les mineraux du groupe du platine (MGP) de ces xenolithes definissent des associations a phases multiples: a) laurite avec sulfures meconnus contenant Ir-Ni-Fe et sulfures de metaux de base, presqu'exclusivement dans la chromite saine (assemblage de type 1), b) alliages abondants (isoferroplatine, ruthenium) et arseniures a Rh-Pd-Ru (cherepanovite, ruthenarsenite, rhodarsenide, et palladodymite ou palladoarsenide, polymorphes de Pd 2 As), avec laurite et antimoniures de Pd (stibiopalladanite ou sudburyite) inclus soit dans la chromite saine, soit dans l'olivine interstitielle (assemblage de type 2), et c) sperrylite et hollingworthite en grains relativement grossiers, avec laurite accessoire, liees aux parties alterees de la chromitite hote (assemblage de type 3). Seuls les assemblages de type 1 ressemblent aux mineraux du groupe du platine typiques des echantillons de chromitite LG6 et MG4 in situ, dans lesquels laurite et cooperite (phase mineure) sont predominants. Par l'absence relative des sulfures et l'abondance des alliages et des phases arseniees, les assemblages de type 2 et 3 ressemblent davantage aux associations de MGP decrites dans la dunite mineralisee de pipes platiniferes et les niveaux metasomatises de chromitite pres du contact avec les pipes. Ces assemblages a faible teneur en soufre auraient ete formes par reaction metasomatique de la chromitite avec une composante enrichie en phase volatile issue des pipes sur un intervalle de temperatures, durant et apres la mise en place des pipes.
Ultra-high efficiency solar cells: the path for mass penetration of solar electricity

For achieving a photovoltaic penetration above one-third of the world demand for electricity in the first half of this century, the importance of a fast manufacturing learning curve that is linked to the capacity of developing cells of increasing efficiency is stressed. Progress in multijunction cells is described as well as three novel concepts promising very high efficiency. It is explained why these concepts will probably be used in concentrator systems.
Data-Driven Evolutionary Optimization: An Overview and Case Studies

Most evolutionary optimization algorithms assume that the evaluation of the objective and constraint functions is straightforward. In solving many real-world optimization problems, however, such objective functions may not exist. Instead, computationally expensive numerical simulations or costly physical experiments must be performed for fitness evaluations. In more extreme cases, only historical data are available for performing optimization and no new data can be generated during optimization. Solving evolutionary optimization problems driven by data collected in simulations, physical experiments, production processes, or daily life are termed data-driven evolutionary optimization. In this paper, we provide a taxonomy of different data driven evolutionary optimization problems, discuss main challenges in data-driven evolutionary optimization with respect to the nature and amount of data, and the availability of new data during optimization. Real-world application examples are given to illustrate different model management strategies for different categories of data-driven optimization problems.
Climate change induced hybridization in flying squirrels

There is now unequivocal evidence for global climate change; however, its potential impacts on evolutionary processes remain unclear. Many species have responded to contemporary climate change through shifts in their geographic range. This could lead to increased sympatry between recently diverged species; likely increasing the potential for hybridization. Recently, following a series of warm winters, southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) in Ontario, Canada rapidly expanded their northern range limit resulting in increased sympatry with the closely related northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus). This provided the opportunity to test the prediction that contemporary climate change can act as a catalyst creating conditions for the formation of hybrid zones. Following extensive sampling and molecular analyses (nuclear and mitochondrial DNA), we identified the occurrence of hybridization between sympatric G. sabrinus and G. volans. There was evidence of backcrossing but not of extensive introgession, consistent with the hypothesis of recent rather than historic hybridization. To our knowledge, this is the first report of hybrid zone formation following a range expansion induced by contemporary climate change. This is also the first report of hybridization between North American flying squirrel species.
Time Dependent Influence of Rotating Magnetic Field on Bacterial Cellulose

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of rotating magnetic field (RMF) on the morphology, physicochemical properties, and the water holding capacity of bacterial cellulose (BC) synthetized by Gluconacetobacter xylinus. The cultures of G. xylinus were exposed to RMF of frequency that equals 50 Hz and magnetic induction 34 mT for 3, 5, and 7 days during cultivation at 28°C in the customized RMF exposure system. It was revealed that BC exposed for 3 days to RMF exhibited the highest water retention capacity as compared to the samples exposed for 5 and 7 days. The observation was confirmed for both the control and RMF exposed BC. It was proved that the BC exposed samples showed up to 26% higher water retention capacity as compared to the control samples. These samples also required the highest temperature to release the water molecules. Such findings agreed with the observation via SEM examination which revealed that the structure of BC synthesized for 7 days was more compacted than the sample exposed to RMF for 3 days. Furthermore, the analysis of 2D correlation of Fourier transform infrared spectra demonstrated the impact of RMF exposure on the dynamics of BC microfibers crystallinity formation.
Stratégies de gestion alternative, liquidité des marchés et excès de volatilité

Ce travail de these s'interesse a la contribution des investisseurs sophistiques de type hedge funds a la dynamique des marches financiers. Considerant qu'ils sont les acteurs fondamentaux de la revelation des prix et de la liquidite des marches, tant du point de vue du modele standard que des critiques comportementalistes, on propose une evaluation des interdependances dynamiques entre strategies de gestion alternative et marches financiers. Les trois premiers chapitres proposent, aumoyen d'approches econometriques originales, la mise en perspective des strategies de hedge funds avec la dynamique des marches a travers l'etude des rendements, de la volatilite et des co-volatilites. S'appuyant sur un large panel de resultats, l'etude revele les nombreuses causalites croisees entre fonds et marches, offrant a la finance comportementale des elements de preuves empiriques des interactions qu'elle envisage au regard des exces de volatilite ou de la contagion financiere. Riche de ces enseignements, le dernier chapitre propose enfin un retour aux modeles theoriques d'equilibres de marche pour proposer un portrait contraste de la speculation rationnelle dans sa relation a l'efficience des marches.
UV‐ignited frontal polymerization of an epoxy resin

By combining frontal polymerization and radical-induced cationic polymerization, it was possible to cure thick samples of an epoxy monomer bleached by UV light. The effect of the relative amounts of cationic photoinitiator and radical initiator was thoroughly investigated and was related to the front's velocity and its maximum temperature. The materials obtained were characterized by quantitative conversion also in the deeper layers, not reached by UV light.