Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surveying “difficult-to-sample” backpackers through Facebook? Employing a mixed-mode dual-frame procedure

The emergence of social media has created a new medium for administering surveys for tourism research. While social media has great potential for tourism researchers, several aspects need to be considered. In the case of backpackers, a traditionally “difficult-to-sample” group, destination-based surveys, email surveys, survey links posted in online forums, and social media sites such as Facebook have all been used to administer surveys. The purpose of this paper is to present the case for a mixed-mode dual-frame sampling procedure as an optimum for targeting backpackers. The sampling procedure discussed in this paper included self-administered surveys through backpacker-specific groups on Facebook.com and self-administered surveys at backpacker hostels in Cairns, Australia. This paper argues that for this particular group, combining offline and online sampling modes allows the research to minimize errors while maximizing the diversity. Additionally, this paper provides some insights and recommendations into administering surveys through Facebook for tourism researchers.
C L ] 2 2 Se p 20 17 Improving Language Modelling with Noise Contrastive Estimation

Neural language models do not scale well when the vocabulary is large. Noise contrastive estimation (NCE) is a sampling-based method that allows for fast learning with large vocabularies. Although NCE has shown promising performance in neural machine translation, it was considered to be an unsuccessful approach for language modelling. A sufficient investigation of the hyperparameters in the NCE-based neural language models was also missing. In this paper, we showed that NCE can be a successful approach in neural language modelling when the hyperparameters of a neural network are tuned appropriately. We introduced the ‘search-thenconverge’ learning rate schedule for NCE and designed a heuristic that specifies how to use this schedule. The impact of the other important hyperparameters, such as the dropout rate and the weight initialisation range, was also demonstrated. We showed that appropriate tuning of NCE-based neural language models outperforms the state-of-the-art single-model methods on a popular benchmark.
DEEP LEARNING GAMES THROUGH THE LENS OF THE TOY 3 Deep Learning Games through the Lens of the Toy

Much has been written in recent times about game-based learning with the aim to bring together elements of game design and instructional design to make education more engaging. Sadly the results have been rather hit-and-miss and most educational games fail to either entertain or educate. Yet there are many entertaining computer games which exhibit all the characteristics of well-designed educational tools. Can these tools only be used to teach combat or dangerous driving? Or is there another reason why educational games fail where entertainment games succeed? Schell’s “Lens of the Toy” provides valuable insight into this problem. An engaging game is based around an interesting toy, something that is already fun to play with before goals, challenges and narratives are added. A good toy is a complex system with many a ordances that engage cognitive abilities of pattern recognition, strategic reasoning and problem solving. In an educational game, we argue this toy should be a concrete model of the learning domain. Such a toy can support all the requirements Gee has set out for teaching “deep conceptual understanding”. Without such a toy at its core, educational games are likely to be little more that shallow, didactic, “skill-and-drill” exercises with a coating of irrelevant gameplay to make them palatable.
Aerosol cloud activation in summer and winter at puy-de-Dôme high altitude site in France

Abstract. Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) size distributions and numbers were measured for the first time at Puy-de-Dome high altitude (1465 m a.s.l) site in Central France. Majority of the measurements were done at constant supersaturation (SS) of 0.24%, which was also deduced to be representative of the typical in-cloud SS at the site. CCN numbers during summer ranged from about 200 up to 2000 cm −3 and during winter from 50 up to 3000 cm −3 . Variability of CCN number was explained by both particle chemistry and size distribution variability. The higher CCN concentrations were measured in continental, in contrast to marine, air masses. Aerosol CCN activity was described with a single hygroscopicity parameter κ. Range of this parameter was 0.29 ± 0.13 in summer and 0.43 ± 0.19 in winter. When calculated using SS of 0.51% during summer, κ of 0.22 ± 0.07 was obtained. The decrease with increasing SS is likely explained by the particle size dependent chemistry with smaller particles containing higher amounts of freshly emitted organic species. Higher κ values during winter were for the most part explained by the observed aged organics (analysed from organic m/z 44 ratio) rather than from aerosol organic to inorganic volume fraction. The obtained κ values also fit well within the range of previously proposed global continental κ of 0.27 ± 0.21. During winter, the smallest κ values and the highest organic fractions were measured in marine air masses. CCN closure using bulk AMS chemistry led to positive bias of 5% and 2% in winter and summer, respectively. This is suspected to stem from size dependent aerosol organic fraction, which is underestimated by using AMS bulk mass composition. Finally, the results were combined with size distributions measured from interstitial and whole air inlets to obtain activated droplet size distributions. Cloud droplet number concentrations were shown to increase with accumulation mode particle number, while the real in-cloud SS correspondingly decreased. These results provide evidence on the effects of aerosol particles on maximum cloud supersaturations. Further work with detailed characterisation of cloud properties is proposed in order to provide more quantitative estimates on aerosol effects on clouds.
Preparation of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid ( RGDS )-Urokinase-carrying targeting ultrasound contrast agent by avidin-biotin system and its impacts on thrombus-targeting affinity

Objective: This study aimed to prepare the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGDS)-urokinase-carrying targeting ultrasound contrast agent using the avidin-biotin system (BAS) and to investigate its physicochemical properties and thrombus-targeting affinity. Methods: The ultrasound contrast agent (Targestar SA) was firstly combined with different doses of RGDS and urokinase by BAS, the products were then tested the binding rate and stability by flow cytometry. The rabbit femoral arterial thrombus model was then used to study the targeting affinity of this ultrasound contrast agent towards thrombus. Results: The results of flow cytometry revealed that the Targestar SA microbubbles successfully carried different doses (3 mg, 6 mg) of RGDS and urokinase (RU-SA), the binding rate was more than 98%, and the stability was not affected by the rinsing. Conclusions: Fluorescence microscopy revealed that RU-SA had targeting affinity towards thrombus. RU-SA prepared by BAS had high carrying rate and exhibited targeting affinity towards thrombus in vivo.
New records of amphibians from Thuong Tien Nature Reserve, Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam

Six species of amphibians are reported for the first time from Thuong Tien Nature Reserve, Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam: Babina chapaensis, Kurixalus bisacculus, Theloderma asperum, Rhacophorus kio, R. feae, and Tylototriton asperrimus. These new findings bring the total number of amphibian species to 33 in Thuong Tien Nature Reserve.
Ten years of soil CO2 continuous monitoring on Mt. Etna: Exploring the relationship between processes of soil degassing and volcanic activity

The measurement of soil CO2 flux variations is a well−established practice in many volcanic areas around the world. Until recently, however, most of these were made using direct sampling methods. These days, a variety of automatic devices providing real‐time data now make the continuous monitoring of volcanic areas possible. A network of automatic geochemical monitoring stations (EtnaGas network) was developed by INGV Palermo and installed at various sites on the flanks of Mt. Etna. Here, we present a large set of soil CO2 flux data recorded by the network, dating back 10 years, a period in which several noteworthy eruptive phenomena occurred. Our statistical analysis strongly suggests that anomalous measurements of soil CO2 flux are attributable to volcanic origin and in almost all cases precede volcanic activity. Here, we present the actual data series recorded by EtnaGAS and an interpretative model of the expected behavior of soil CO2 flux (in terms of increase‐decrease cycles), which corresponded well with the volcanic activity during this period. Through the use of a comparative approach, incorporating both volcanological and geochemical data, the global soil CO2 flux trends are put into a coherent framework, highlighting close links between the time flux variations and volcanic activities. These insights, made possible from 10 years of uninterrupted data, confirm the importance of continuous monitoring of volcanic soil degassing, and may contribute in the forecasting of imminent eruptive activity or the temporal evolution of an in‐progress eruption, therefore facilitating Civil Defense planning in volcanic areas under high‐hazard conditions.
L'Actualité économique

Le grand nombre de ressources zoogénétiques à risque dans les pays en développement et les ressources financières limitées mises à disposition pour la conservation et pour l’utilisation durable impliquent que l’analyse économique joue un rôle important pour garantir la juste attention pour les efforts de conservation et d’amélioration génétique. A cet égard, les tâches importantes sont, entre autres:
Trading off dietary choices, physical exercise and cardiovascular disease risks

Despite several decades of decline, cardiovascular diseases are still the most common causes of death in Western societies. Sedentary living and high fat diets contribute to the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. This paper analyses the trade-offs between lifestyle choices defined in terms of diet, physical activity, cost, and risk of cardiovascular disease that a representative sample of the population of Northern Ireland aged 40-65 are willing to make. Using computer assisted personal interviews, we survey 493 individuals at their homes using a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) questionnaire administered between February and July 2011 in Northern Ireland. Unlike most DCE studies for valuing public health programs, this questionnaire uses a tailored exercise, based on the individuals’ baseline choices. A “fat screener” module in the questionnaire links personal cardiovascular disease risk to each specific choice set in terms of dietary constituents. Individuals are informed about their real status quo risk of a fatal cardiovascular event, based on an initial set of health questions. Thus, actual risks, real diet and exercise choices are the elements that constitute the choice task. Our results show that our respondents are willing to pay for reducing mortality risk and, more importantly, are willing to change physical exercise and dietary behaviours. In particular, we find that to improve their lifestyles, overweight and obese people would be more likely to do more physical activity than to change their diets. Therefore, public policies aimed to target obesity and its related illnesses in Northern Ireland should invest public money in promoting physical activity rather than healthier diets.
Trading off dietary choices , physical exercise and cardiovascular disease risks

Despite several decades of decline, cardiovascular diseases are still the most common causes of death in Western societies. Sedentary living and high fat diets contribute to the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. This paper analyses the trade-offs between lifestyle choices defined in terms of diet, physical activity, cost, and risk of cardiovascular disease that a representative sample of the population of Northern Ireland aged 40-65 are willing to make. Using computer assisted personal interviews, we survey 493 individuals at their homes using a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) questionnaire administered between February and July 2011 in Northern Ireland. Unlike most DCE studies for valuing public health programs, this questionnaire uses a tailored exercise, based on the individuals’ baseline choices. A “fat screener” module in the questionnaire links personal cardiovascular disease risk to each specific choice set in terms of dietary constituents. Individuals are informed about their real status quo risk of a fatal cardiovascular event, based on an initial set of health questions. Thus, actual risks, real diet and exercise choices are the elements that constitute the choice task. Our results show that our respondents are willing to pay for reducing mortality risk and, more importantly, are willing to change physical exercise and dietary behaviours. In particular, we find that to improve their lifestyles, overweight and obese people would be more likely to do more physical activity than to change their diets. Therefore, public policies aimed to target obesity and its related illnesses in Northern Ireland should invest public money in promoting physical activity rather than healthier diets.
Computational assessment of atherosclerotic plaque components in MR images

Computational assessment of atherosclerotic plaque components in MR images Evaluation of the composition of atherosclerotic plaques in images is an important task to determine their pathophysiology. Visual analysis is still as the most basic and often approach to determine the morphology of atherosclerotic plaques. In addition, computeraided methods have also been developed for identi cation of features such as echogenicity, texture and surface in such plaques. Also, the identi cation of atherosclerotic plaque components, extraction and analysis of its features, and classi cation of the disease progression is an essential factor to predict the occurence of future cerebral events. Computational algorithms play an important role to automatic segment such components in order to expedite the clinical diagnosis. In this thesis proposal, a review of the most important methodologies that have been developed to identify the main components of atherosclerotic plaques in images is presented. Hence, computational algorithms that take into consideration the analysis of the plaques echogenicity, image processing techniques, clustering algorithms and supervised classi cation used for segmentation, i.e. identi cation, of the atherosclerotic plaque components in ultrasound, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance images, are introduced. This PhD project is intended to propose novel methodologies for improving the existing researches related to the segmentation of atherosclerotic plaque components, extraction of its features and classi cation of the lesion type. Thus, the future tasks to be developed are indicated and summarized.
Feedback Systems: An Introduction for Scientists and Engineers

This book provides an introduction to the mathematics needed to model, analyze, and design feedback systems. It is an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate students, and is indispensable for researchers seeking a self-contained reference on control theory. Unlike most books on the subject, Feedback Systems develops transfer functions through the exponential response of a system, and is accessible across a range of disciplines that utilize feedback in physical, biological, information, and economic systems. Karl strm and Richard Murray use techniques from physics, computer science, and operations research to introduce control-oriented modeling. They begin with state space tools for analysis and design, including stability of solutions, Lyapunov functions, reachability, state feedback observability, and estimators. The matrix exponential plays a central role in the analysis of linear control systems, allowing a concise development of many of the key concepts for this class of models. strm and Murray then develop and explain tools in the frequency domain, including transfer functions, Nyquist analysis, PID control, frequency domain design, and robustness. They provide exercises at the end of every chapter, and an accompanying electronic solutions manual is available. Feedback Systems is a complete one-volume resource for students and researchers in mathematics, engineering, and the sciences.Covers the mathematics needed to model, analyze, and design feedback systems Serves as an introductory textbook for students and a self-contained resource for researchers Includes exercises at the end of every chapter Features an electronic solutions manual Offers techniques applicable across a range of disciplines
THE RESPONSE OF CHIRONOMIDS TO WATER AND SEDIMENT CHEMISTRY IN URBAN CANALS (UK)

Forty-six sites on canals in the English Midlands were sampled using the Chironomid Pupal Exuviae Technique (CPET). Species data were associated with water and sediment chemistry at each site. Separate CCA analyses were carried on (i) all species and all chemical variables, (ii) epibenthic species and water chemistry (iii) inbenthic species and sediment chemistry. Dissolved lead, chromium and Total Oxidised Nitrogen, together with sediment lead and fi nes were the best variables discriminating between sites for (i) Dissolved chromium, lead and Chlorophyll a were best discriminating sites for (ii). Sediment fi nes, lead and nitrogen were the best discriminating variables for (iii). Biological classifi cations constrained by each of the signifi cant variables were used to calculate indicator species scores and reveal species assemblages. CPET was effective at determining water and sediment quality within urban canals.
Nutrient analysis of paprika (Capsicum annuum var. longam) cv. KtPl-19 under drip fertigation system.

Author for correspondence : G. SATHISH Horticultural Research Station (T.N.A.U.), KODAIKANAL (T.N.) INDIA Email : gskspice@gmail.com ABSTRACT : Paprika (Capsicum annuum var. longam) is one of the important natural colourants next to turmeric. Application of fertilizers through drip irrigation is known to play a vital role in enhancing the productivity and quality of many horticultural crops. In this view, studies on paprika (Capsicum annuum var. longam) were carried out at the College orchard, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during 2006-2009 to find out the effect of different sources and levels of potassium with reference to nutrient analysis. The experiment was conducted for two seasons viz., season I (June 2007Jan 2008) and season II (July 2008Feb 2009) to get the concurrent result. From the study, it was observed that the crop paprika responded well to the fertigation treatments. The result revealed that application of 100 % RDF as MAP, Multi-K and SOP increased the Dry matter content at all the stages of crop growth. Similarly, the treatment T 7 revealed the highest available soil N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S at different growth stages viz., vegetative, flowering and harvesting stage. The same treatment T 7 also recorded higher nutrient uptake and less pungent.
Saving Unique Ecosystems by the Use of Economic Methods and Instruments: Is this possible?

Since the 1990s flood risk and the effects of flooding episodes have reemerged as an important natural hazard concern in central and northern Europe. These concerns have also been exacerbated as a result of widespread and increasing awareness of global climate change, and significant wetland loss due to rising sea levels. Global climate change and wetland loss are expected to increase the frequency and extent of floods in the future (Nichols et al., 1999). These floods are expected to cause significant changes in the current land use and population patterns. Contrary to floods of the past centuries, recent European floods have milder effects in terms of loss of human life. Nevertheless the economic costs of flooding are rapidly increasing as a result of increased costs of damages to infrastructure and production in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors, and disruptions to transport. The estimated costs of the damages of the floods of 1997 and 2001 are in the region of one billion USD for Poland, and 250 million USD, for the surrounding countries (Brakenridge et al, 1997, 2001). As a consequence of the increasing economic and social costs of floods, European governments have taken a more involved approach in flood risk reduction.
Probabilistic correlation of single stratigraphic samples: A generalized approach for biostratigraphic data

Existing quantitative methods for biostratigraphic dating and correlation commonly ignore one of the key strengths of the microfossil record—relative abundance data. In this study, we present a maximum likelihood-based biostratigraphic method that demonstrates how microfossil abundance can be used in the stratigraphic placement of isolated samples. Precise correlation and dating of isolated paleontological samples is not possible with current methods, which are primarily intended for the alignment of longer stratigraphic sequences. In contrast, the probabilistic approach provided by likelihood analysis results in sample age estimates with defined confidence intervals. Therefore, all the uncertainties inherent in our age assessment (resulting from small sample sizes, incomplete sampling, imperfect knowledge of stratigraphic distributions, lack of taxonomic resolution of biostratigraphic data, and underlying environmental, paleogeographic, and sedimentologic processes) are explicit in our results. We conclude with a field test of the method, from data collected from an oil well from the Catatumbo Basin, Colombia, illustrating the use of our approach in a real-world case study and highlighting how our method could be generalized to a wide range of stratigraphic problems.