Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Australopithecus sediba: A New Species of Homo-Like Australopith from South Africa

From Australopithecus to Homo Our genus Homo is thought to have evolved a little more than 2 million years ago from the earlier hominid Australopithecus. But there are few fossils that provide detailed information on this transition. Berger et al. (p. 195; see the cover) now describe two partial skeletons, including most of the skull, pelvis, and ankle, of a new species of Australopithecus that are informative. The skeletons were found in a cave in South Africa encased in sediments dated by Dirks et al. (p. 205) to about 1.8 to 1.9 million years ago. The fossils share many derived features with the earliest Homo species, including in its pelvis and smaller teeth, and imply that the transition to Homo was in stages. A new species of Australopithecus, about 1.9 million years old, shows many derived features with Homo, helping to reveal its evolution. Despite a rich African Plio-Pleistocene hominin fossil record, the ancestry of Homo and its relation to earlier australopithecines remain unresolved. Here we report on two partial skeletons with an age of 1.95 to 1.78 million years. The fossils were encased in cave deposits at the Malapa site in South Africa. The skeletons were found close together and are directly associated with craniodental remains. Together they represent a new species of Australopithecus that is probably descended from Australopithecus africanus. Combined craniodental and postcranial evidence demonstrates that this new species shares more derived features with early Homo than any other australopith species and thus might help reveal the ancestor of that genus.
Laser Scanning for the Environmental Sciences

Preface. List of Contributors. 1. Laser scanning - evolution of the discipline Andrew R.G. Large & G.L. Heritage . 2. Principles of 3D laser scanning G.L. Heritage & Andrew R.G. Large . 3. Issues in laser scanning Seamus Coveney & Timothy McCarthy. 4. Airborne LiDAR: instrumentation, data acquisition and handling Bernard Devereux & Gabriel Amable . 5. Geostatisical analysis of LiDAR data Chris Brunsden. 6. General data issues, data quality and protocols David Hetherington . 7. Terrestrial laser scanning to derive surface grain size facies character of gravel bars Neil S. Entwistle & Ian C. Fuller . 8. Airborne Laser Scanning - Methods for processing and automatic feature extraction for natural as well as for artificial (man-made) objects Christoph Straub, Yungsheng Wang & Octavian Iercan . 9. Numerical modelling of 3D flow using spatially distributed datasets of topography and roughness at different grid resolutions David J. Milan. 10. Airborne LiDAR Measurements to Quantify Change in Sandy Beaches Michael J. Starek, K. Clint Slatton, Ramesh L. Shrestha & William E. Carter . 11. LiDAR in the Environmental sciences: Geological Applications David Hodgetts . 12. Using LiDAR in archaeological contexts: The English Heritage experience and lessons learned Simon Crutchley . 13. Airborne and terrestrial laser scanning for measuring vegetation canopy structure F.M. Danson, F. Morsdorf & B. Koetz . 14. Flood mapping and vegetation mapping in large river systems Ian C. Overton, Anders Siggins, John C. Gallant, David Penton & Guy Byrne . 15. Laser scanning surveying of linear features: considerations and applications Michael Lim, Jon Mills & Nicholas Rosser . 16. Laser scanning - the future Andrew R.G. Large, G.L. Heritage Index
Using the low-level aerial survey method to identify Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat

Identifying and managing nesting habitat for the threatened Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is difficult because it nests secretively, high in the canopies of large, old conifers of the Pacific Northwest. In British Columbia, low-level surveying from a helicopter is now a recommended standard method of assessing forested landscapes for key microhabitat features—such as availability of potential platforms and developed moss pads for nests, foliage cover above the nest, and accessibility—that are not distinguishable on air photos, satellite images, or forest cover maps. Using a sample of 111 nest sites and 139 random sites within forests greater than 140 years old and distributed across three study areas in south coastal British Columbia, we confirmed the effectiveness of the aerial survey method for classifying overall habitat quality of murrelet nesting habitat. The minimum map units were 3-ha patches. Overall, 40% of the 111 nest sites were in patches classed as Very High, 36% were in High, 15% were in Moderate, 6% were in Low, and 3% were in Very Low. Our ranking of habitat quality was most strongly influenced by estimates of platform availability and moss development. Using an information-theoretic approach, we identified that the Resource Selection Function scores of nest patches improved as elevation decreased, slope grade increased, and the proportion of emergent and canopy trees with mossy pads increased. We also confirmed that study area location affected the strength of model application. Our findings support the potential utility of the low-level aerial survey method for identifying or confirming Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat for land-management purposes.
Product Recall Delay and Product Cycle

When a safety defect occurs, manufacturers often use product recalls to mitigate potential consequences. Our empirical observation on large recalls in the automobile industry suggests that the timing of a recall is a key decision in this recall process, as we find that only recalls made in an early stage of a product cycle significantly influence future product sales. Motivated by this observation, we study the optimal recall timing for a profit-maximizing manufacturer by endogenizing a product's life cycle into our model. Specifically, firms need to make a trade-off between future product sales loss due to a recall and the penalty and costs for a delayed recall. When a product defect is discovered at an early stage of the product cycle, we find that a firm may strategically delay the timing of a recall to mitigate the negative shock evoked by this recall. However, the delay duration (i.e., the time from when a defect is identified to the recall time) depends on the margin of the product as well as the penalty with respect to recall delays. For a high margin product (with respect to unit recall costs), firms should always delay such recall decisions; however, for a low margin product, such delay decisions are not always optimal. Finally, we use an empirical analysis to confirm the extent to which a properly delayed recall on firm sales is effective. Our findings provide governments and regulation parties with new directions for deploying their investigation efforts to avoid overdue recalls, thereby reducing potential casualties associated with recall delays.
Purdue RVL-SLLL ASL database for automatic recognition of American Sign Language

This article reports on an extensive database of American Sign Language (ASL) motions, handshapes, words and sentences. Research on automatic recognition of ASL requires a suitable database for the training and the testing of algorithms. The databases that are currently available do not allow for algorithmic development that requires a step-by-step approach to ASL recognition-from the recognition of individual handshapes, to the recognition of motion primitives, and finally, to the recognition of full sentences. We have sought to remove these deficiencies in a new database-the Purdue RVL-SLLL ASL database.
Aquifer fluid modeling and assessment of mineral-gas-liquid equilibria in the Námafjall geothermal system, NE-Iceland

This study presents a geochemical evaluation of the Námafjall high-temperature geothermal field with respect to the chemical and physical processes that account for the fluid concentrations of volatile and non-volatile components, and the mineral assemblages controlling equilibrium in the aquifer. Aquifer fluid compositions and aqueous species distribution, for 25 samples collected from 7 wet-steam well discharges, were calculated from waterand steam-phase analyses and discharge enthalpies using the WATCH 2.1 speciation program according to the phase segregation model. Phase segregation pressures calculated at ~80% volume fraction of the flowing vapor are selected in view of the fact that liquid saturation at this pressures relate to residual liquid saturation of 0.2. The modelled aquifer fluid compositions were used to assess how closely equilibrium is approached between solution and various minerals. H2S and H2 concentrations were used to evaluate the presence of equilibrium vapor fraction in the initial aquifer fluid, calculated as 0-3.9% by weight with a field average of 0.79% by weight. At inferred Námafjall aquifer temperatures (200-300°C), the concentration of H2S in the initial aquifer fluids is somewhat higher than predicted at equilibrium with hydrothermal mineral assemblage consisting of pyrite, pyrrhotite, prehnite and epidote, while concentration of H2 closely approaches equilibrium for the excess enthalpy wells unlike for the liquid enthalpy wells. With respect to CO2 the calculated chemical compositions of initial aquifer fluid show a close approach to equilibrium (for liquid enthalpy wells) but lower than equilibrium for the excess enthalpy wells with the hydrothermal alteration minerals clinozoisite, calcite, quartz and prehnite. The shallower aquifer at Námafjall are higher in gas (H2S, H2, CO2 and N2) indicating that gaseous steam from deeper aquifers has condensed in the shallower ones signifying that they are, at least partly, steam-heated. The main uncertainty involved in calculating mineral saturation indices, particularly in the case of excess enthalpy well discharges, lies in the model adopted to calculate the aquifer water composition and its aqueous species distribution and in the quality of the thermodynamic data on the aqueous species and the minerals especially those that involve Fe-bearing species. In the deep aquifers, chemical equilibrium has been rather closely approached between dissolved solids, H2S and H2 on one hand and hydrothermal minerals on the other. For Rhoda James, my "antique" girl.
A state-of-practice survey of health and environmental assessment in the Canadian north

The need to strengthen the role of environmental and health considerations in decisionmaking processes is increasingly recognized by the Canadian government and industrybased organizations. Integrating human health into environmental assessments (EAs) at the earliest stage is critical for identifying and managing potentially adverse effects. The World Health Organization states “health depends on our ability to understand and manage the interaction between human activities and the physical and biological environment. We have the knowledge for this but have failed to act on it”. In light of this shortfall, the primary objectives of this research are to evaluate the scope of health within EA, and to evaluate the state-of-practice with regard to the incorporation of human health impacts into the EA process within Canada’s Northern natural resource sector. The adopted methodology combines both a mail-out questionnaire survey of practitioner and administrator experiences with EA across the North, as well as semistructured interviews with health professionals. The results confirm the importance of human health integration in northern EA; however, in practice, ‘human health’ or ‘human health impacts’ are receiving inconsistent and superficial treatment with very little agreement as to the scope of health issues in EA. Project-based assessments are often limited to the investigation of the biophysical impacts and neglect to consider the social and cultural effects, and broader determinants of health. In cases where broader social health issues are addressed, attention seems to be limited to those impacts for which the proponents have direct control over, notably employment and business opportunities. Subsequently, the performance of northern EAs is often less than satisfactory, and improvements are required in the EA process to correct this. Barriers
First Sounding Results from VAS-D

First results are presented from an experiment to sound the atmosphere's temperature and moisture distribution from a geostationary satellite. Sounding inferences in clear and partially cloudy conditions have the anticipated accuracy and horizontal and vertical resolutions. Most important is the preliminary indication that small but significant temporal variations of atmospheric temperature and moisture can be observed by the geostationary satellite sounder. Quantitative assessment of the accuracy and meteorological utility of this new sounding capability must await the accumulation of results over the coming months.
Monetary and Fiscal Policies in a Sudden Stop: Is Tighter Brighter?

It is not. 1 This paper was prepared for the project on Policy Responses to Sudden Stops in Capital Flows, sponsored by the InterAmerican Development Bank. We would like to thank very specially our research assistant Pablo Gluzmann (Universidad de La Plata) for his invaluable support. We are also grateful to the participants of the LACEA-LAMES 2007 Annual Meetings in Bogotá, Colombia and of the XXVI Meeting of the Latin American Network of Central Banks and Finance Ministries, IADB, Washington DC for very useful comments on a previous version of the paper.
An exploratory study of the experiences of Year 7 pupils with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) on transition to mainstream secondary school

The majority of children with ASC are educated within a mainstream secondarysetting. The challenges within the new environment may lead to some childrenexperiencing a breakdown in provision resulting in temporary or permanentexclusions. A gap in the literature highlights a need for research which seeks tounderstand the views and experiences of year 7 children with ASCs about theirtransition to mainstream secondary school.The research involved four year 7 children with ASC, from across three settings, whohad recently transitioned from a mainstream primary school to a mainstreamsecondary school (without resource based provision). The views of their parents andteachers were also sought.A multiple-embedded case study design was employed involving four cases fromacross three school settings. This involved utilising a transition Q-sort and a semistructuredinterview with four children and semi-structured interviews with sixparents and three teachers. The data was analysed using content analysis andthematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The findings highlight a need for individualised transition planning for the child withASC; consideration of co-occurring difficulties and the importance of including theviews of the child and parents in transition planning. The findings are discussed inrelation to psychological theories and existing literature. The implications for futureresearch; local authority policy; school staff; parents and educational psychologistsare considered.
The effect of UV irradiation the bacterial load of shell eggs.

Ministry of the Flemish Community, Agricultural Research Centre, Department of Animal Product Quality and Transformation Technology, Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Food Preservation, Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Ghent, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen UR; Division Infectious Diseases, PO BOX 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands *K.Dereu@clo.fgov. be
The Digitization of Word-of-mouth: Promise and Challenges of Online Reputation Mechanisms

Online reputation mechanisms harness the bi-directional communication capabilities of the Internet in order to engineer large-scale word-of-mouth networks. They are emerging as a promising alternative to more established assurance mechanisms, such as branding and formal contracting, in a variety of settings ranging from online marketplaces to Internet search engines. At the same time, they are transforming a concept that had traditionally fallen within the realm of the social sciences into an engineering design problem. This paper surveys our progress in understanding the new possibilities and challenges that these mechanisms represent. It discusses some important dimensions in which Internet-based reputation mechanisms differ from traditional word-of-mouth networks and surveys the most important issues related to designing, evaluating and using them. It provides an overview of relevant work in game theory and economics on the topic or reputation. It further discusses how this body of work is being extended and combined with insights from computer science, information systems, management science and psychology in order to take into consideration the special properties of online mechanisms such as their unprecedented scalability, the ability to precisely design the type of feedback information they solicit and distribute, and challenges associated with the volatility of identities and the absence of many familiar contextual cues in online environments.
Two Semi-Analytical Methods Applied to Hydrodynamic Stability of Dean
 Flow

Hydrodynamic stability of Dean flow is studied using two semi-analytical methods of differential transform method (DTM) and Homotopy perturbation method (HPM). These two methods are evaluated to examine the effectiveness and accuracy of the solution of considered eigenvalue problem. Very good accordance is achieved between our semi-analytical results compared to existing numerical data. Based on our analysis, in the similar number of truncated terms, HPM is more accurate in comparison with DTM. We also concluded that for the higher wave numbers, HPM provide more accurate results with less truncated terms compared to the DTM. Finally, we found the critical Dean number 35.927 corresponding to wave number of 3.952 for onset of instability of Dean flow.
Comparing latent inequality with ordinal data

We propose new ways to compare two latent distributions when only ordinal data are available and without imposing parametric assumptions on the underlying continuous distributions. First, we contribute identification results. We show how certain ordinal conditions provide evidence of between-group inequality, quantified by particular quantiles being higher in one latent distribution than in the other. We also show how other ordinal conditions provide evidence of higher within-group inequality in one distribution than in the other, quantified by particular interquantile ranges being wider in one latent distribution than in the other. Second, we propose an “inner” confidence set for the quantiles that are higher for the first latent distribution. We also describe frequentist and Bayesian inference on features of the ordinal distributions relevant to our identification results. Our contributions are illustrated by empirical examples with mental health and general health.
Brain Function Differences in Language Processing in Children and Adults with Autism

Comparison of brain function between children and adults with autism provides an understanding of the effects of the disorder and associated maturational differences on language processing. Functional imaging (functional magnetic resonance imaging) was used to examine brain activation and cortical synchronization during the processing of literal and ironic texts in 15 children with autism, 14 children with typical development, 13 adults with autism, and 12 adult controls. Both the children and adults with autism had lower functional connectivity (synchronization of brain activity among activated areas) than their age and ability comparison group in the left hemisphere language network during irony processing, and neither autism group had an increase in functional connectivity in response to increased task demands. Activation differences for the literal and irony conditions occurred in key language‐processing regions (left middle temporal, left pars triangularis, left pars opercularis, left medial frontal, and right middle temporal). The children and adults with autism differed from each other in the use of some brain regions during the irony task, with the adults with autism having activation levels similar to those of the control groups. Overall, the children and adults with autism differed from the adult and child controls in (a) the degree of network coordination, (b) the distribution of the workload among member nodes, and (3) the dynamic recruitment of regions in response to text content. Moreover, the differences between the two autism age groups may be indicative of positive changes in the neural function related to language processing associated with maturation and/or educational experience. Autism Res 2013, ●●: ●●–●●. © 2013 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
CONSTANT PROPORTION PORTFOLIO INSURANCE IN THE PRESENCE OF JUMPS IN ASSET PRICES

Constant proportion portfolio insurance (CPPI) allows an investor to limit downside risk while retaining some upside potential by maintaining an exposure to risky assets equal to a constant multiple of the cushion, the difference between the current portfolio value and the guaranteed amount. Whereas in diffusion models with continuous trading, this strategy has no downside risk, in real markets this risk is nonnegligible and grows with the multiplier value. We study the behavior of CPPI strategies in models where the price of the underlying portfolio may experience downward jumps. Our framework leads to analytically tractable expressions for the probability of hitting the floor, the expected loss, and the distribution of losses. This allows to measure the gap risk but also leads to a criterion for adjusting the multiplier based on the investor's risk aversion. Finally, we study the problem of hedging the downside risk of a CPPI strategy using options. The results are applied to a jump‐diffusion model with parameters estimated from returns series of various assets and indices.
Improving BGP convergence through consistency assertions

This paper presents a new mechanism for improving the convergence properties of path vector routing algorithms, such as BGP. Using a route's path information, we develop two consistency assertions for path vector routing algorithms that are used to compare similar routes and identify infeasible routes. To apply these assertions in BGP, mechanisms to signal failure/policy withdrawal, and traffic engineering are provided. Our approach was implemented and deployed in a BGP testbed and evaluated using simulation. By identifying and ignoring the infeasible routes, we achieved substantial reduction in both BGP convergence time and the total number of intermediate route changes.
Ju l 2 01 4 DISCONNECTION AND LEVEL-SET PERCOLATION FOR THE GAUSSIAN FREE FIELD Alain-Sol Sznitman Preliminary Draft

We study the level-set percolation of the Gaussian free field on Z, d ≥ 3. We consider a level α such that the excursion-set of the Gaussian free field above α percolates. We derive large deviation estimates on the probability that the excursion-set of the Gaussian free field below the level α disconnects a box of large side-length from the boundary of a larger homothetic box. It remains an open question whether our asymptotic upper and lower bounds are matching. With the help of a recent work of Lupu [21], we are able to infer some asymptotic upper bounds for similar disconnection problems by random interlacements, or by simple random walk. Departement Mathematik July 2014 ETH Zürich CH-8092 Zürich Switzerland This research was supported in part by a Joseph Meyerhoff Visiting Professorship at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.