Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
and cover changed object detection in remote sensing data with edium spatial resolution

Land cover change information is crucial to analyse the process and the change patterns of environments and ecological systems. Recent studies have incorporated object-based image analysis for its ability to generate meaningful geographical objects into studies of change detection. In this research, we developed a systematic methodology to realise multi-type land cover changed object detection with medium spatial resolution remote sensing images in Beijing, China. Optimum index factor (OIF) was applied to determine the best change indicators and the chi-square transformation was carried out to determine the change ulti-temporal segmentation and cover changed object hange indicators egmentation scale hi-square transformation threshold of the 4 classes of changed object. The clustering change vectors in the feature space were proposed to discriminate the change types. According to the accuracy assessment, the overall accuracy of changed/unchanged object detection was approximately 93.9% with an overall kappa of 0.824, and the change type discrimination also achieved an overall accuracy of 81.67%, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Long-term streamflow trends in Hawai‘i and implications for native stream fauna Running title: Long-term streamflow trends in Hawai‘i

Climate change has fundamentally altered the water cycle in tropical islands, which is a critical driver of freshwater ecosystems. To examine how changes in streamflow regime has impacted habitat quality for native migratory aquatic species, we present a 50-year (19672016) analysis of hydrologic records in 23 unregulated streams across the five largest Hawaiian Islands. For each stream, flow was separated into direct runoff and baseflow, and high and low flow statistics (i.e., Q10, Q90) with ecologically important hydrologic indices (e.g., frequency of flooding, low flow duration) derived. Using Mann-Kendall tests with a running trend analysis, we determined the persistence of streamflow trends through time. We analyzed native stream fauna from ~400 sites, sampled from 1992-2007, to assess species richness among islands and streams. Declines in streamflow metrics indicated a general drying across the islands. In particular, significant declines in low flow conditions (baseflows), were experienced in 57% of streams, compared with a significant decline in storm flow conditions for 22% of streams. The running trend analysis indicated that many of the significant downward trends were not persistent through time, but were only significant if recent decades (1987-2016) were included, with an average decline in baseflow and runoff of 10.90% and 8.28% per decade, respectively. Streams that supported higher native species diversity were associated with moderate discharge and baseflow index, short duration of low flows, and negligible downward trends in flow. A significant decline in dry season flows (May–Oct.) has led to an increase in the number of no-flow days in drier areas, indicating that more streams may become intermittent, which has important implications for mauka to makai
HYBRID ESTIMATES OF PATH ATTENUATION FOR THE DPR

The purpose of this study is to investigate ways to combine estimates from the Surface Reference and Hitschfeld-Bordan methods into a hybrid path attenuation estimate and to study its performance using dual-frequency radar data provided by the Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) on board the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) satellite.
Rockets and Feathers Revisited: Asymmetric Retail Gasoline Pricing in the Era of Market Transparency

In this paper, we revisit the empirical observation that prices rise like rockets when input costs increase but fall like feathers when input costs decrease. The analysis draws on a novel data set that includes daily retail prices of gasoline from 12,804 stations in Germany from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018. Our findings based on pooled-panel asymmetric error correction models indicate that the pattern of rockets and feathers is the norm rather than the exception. Our results further show that temporal aggregation of station-level price data leads to inaccurate inferences and could account for the inconclusive findings in the literature.
A combined nelder-mead simplex and genetic algorithm

It is usually said that genetic algorithm should be used when nothing else works. In practice, genetic algorithm are very often used for large sized global optimization problems, but are not very efficient for local optimization problems. The Nelder-Mead simplex algorithm has some common characteristics with genetic algorithm, but it can only find a local optimum close to the starting point. In this article, a combined Nelder-Mead Simplex and Genetic algorithm is introduced and tested on classical test functions on which both genetic algorithm or local optimization techniques are not efficient when separately used.
The effect of a multicomponent intervention on hepatic steatosis is partially mediated by the reduction of intermuscular abdominal adipose tissue in children with overweight or obesity; the EFIGRO project

Objective In adults, there is evidence that the improvement of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) depends on the reduction of myoesteatosis. In children, where the prevalence of MAFLD is alarming, this muscle-liver crosstalk has not been tested. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether the effects of a multicomponent intervention on hepatic fat were mediated by changes on intermuscular abdominal adipose tissue (IMAAT) in children with overweight/obesity
A model for phospho-caveolin-1-driven turnover of focal adhesions

The regulation of Focal Adhesion (FA) dynamics is a key aspect of cellular motility. FAs concentrate integrins and associated cytoskeletal elements as well as a large number of regulatory proteins, including adapters, kinases and small GTPases of the Rho Family. We have recently shown that activated Rac1 can localize to FAs and can initiate the accumulation of the adapter protein Caveolin1 (Cav1) at FAs. As reported by several groups including ours, this translocation requires Cav1 phosphorylation at Tyr14, presumably by Src. Here we provide additional data regarding this process and briefly review recent literature. Finally, we incorporated the different pieces of available information into a mechanistic model. This model proposes that local Rac1 activation initiates a series of events that involve endosomal traffic of Cav1 and Src, targeting these proteins to or near FAs. Next, within specific membrane domains, Src can mediate the phosphorylation of Cav1 at Tyr 14, which is important for the stable FA localization of Cav1. Finally, dephosphorylation of Cav1 may represent a key step required for internalization, FA turnover and cell motility.
Towards Quality Control in DNA Microarrays

We present a framework for detecting degenerate probes in a DNA microarray that may add to measurement error in hybridization experiments. We consider four types of behaviour: secondary structure formation, self-dimerization, cross-hybridization and dimerization. The framework uses a well-established model of nucleic acid sequence hybridization and a novel method for the detection of patterns in hybridization experiment data. Our primary result is the identification of unique patterns in hybridization experiment data that are correlated with each type of degenerate probe behaviour. The framework also contains a machine learning technique to learn from the hybridization experiment data. We implement the components of the framework and evaluate the ability of the framework to detect degenerate probes in the Affymetrix HuGeneFL GeneChip.
Potassium/argon dating of volcanic material associated with the Pliocene Pecten Conglomerate (Cockburn Island) and Scallop Hill Formation (McMurdo Sound)

A sample of basalt (James Ross Island Volcanic Group) from immediately beneath the marine Pecten Conglomerate on Cockburn Island provided a potassium/argon date of 3.65 +/- 0.3 million years (Pliocene). Assuming the basalt beneath the Pecten Conglomerate on Cockburn Island to be about the same age as basalts on James Ross Island, Zinsmeister and Webb (1982) deduced that the fossiliferous conglomerate could be no older than about 6 million years. The Cockburn Island basalt date indicates an age of less than 3.65 million years (late Pliocene) for the Pecten Conglomerate. Harwood (1986) examined five samples collected by Webb for diatoms. Only one sample, PNW-82-13, yielded a rich diatom flora along with silicoflagellates, radiolarians, and sponge spicules. Harwood proposed an age of 2.8 to 2.0 million years (late Pliocene). The foraminifera of the Pecten Conglomerate are taxonomically quite similar to assemblages present in the Scallop Hill Formation and Pecten gravels (also known as Prospect Mesa gravel) of the McMurdo Sound area. These have also been considered late Pliocene in age. Samples of barnacle-rich Scallop Hill Formation collected during their visit contain unweathered volcanic boulders. Two such boulders were dated by potassium/argon methods and provided ages of 2.62 +/- 0.04 and 2.58more » +/- 0.09 million years, respectively. This implies that the Scallop Hill Formation at this site is younger than 2.58-2.62 million years (i.e., late Pliocene or younger). If Eggers' assertion that basalt of 2.20 million years age overlies the Scallop Hill Formation in this area is correct, one can accept a late Pliocene age for the formation. « less
Does the Early and Late Rate of Torque Development, Change in Relation to the Quadriceps Angle?

The rate of torque development (RTD), which determines the force that can be developed in the early phase of muscle contraction (0-200 ms), is very important in terms of tracking explosive strength improvement and preventing knee injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of quadriceps angle which affects the structural alignment of the lower extremity with early (0-100 ms) and late (100-200 ms) rate of torque development of the knee extensor muscles and myoelectrical activity. The study was carried out with 38 well-trained male basketball players (mean age: 22.3±2.5 years). The participants were divided into two groups with normal (<11°) and abnormal (>10°) values. RTD was measured in concentric/concentric mode at 60, 120 and 180°/s angular velocities in an isokinetic dynamometer. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to determine the myoelectrical activity. When RTD0-100 and RTD100-200 were examined, statistically significant difference was observed at 60 and 120°/s (p<0.05). However, no difference was observed at 180°/s. In addition, sEMG data did not have a statistically significant difference between groups. Negative correlation was found between all RTD at 60, 10 and 180°/s with Q angle (180°/s RTD0-100 r= -0.34, 180°/s RTD100-200 r= -0.35, 120°/s RTD0-100 r= -0.40, 120°/s RTD100-200 r= -0.48, 60°/s RTD0-100 r= -0.55, 60°/s RTD100-200 r= -0.59; p<0.05). There was a negative correlation between the structural differences of the lower extremity and the early and late rate of torque development of the knee extensor muscles. Considering the structural variables, it is thought that it is important to improve the rate of torque development with appropriate resistance training in athletes with variables such as abnormal Q angle, and thus knee injuries can be prevented through athletic development.
Is There a Link Between Sleep Quality and a Tendency for Eating Disorders?

Aim: Poor sleep quality has been associated with an increased risk of developing eating disorders, and unhealthy eating behaviours. The aim of the study was to explore the potential link between sleep quality and eating disorders. Subjects and Method: This descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted with 357 (84 male; 273 female) university students between the ages of 18-25 years. Exclusion criteria included being diagnosed with chronic disease and psychiatric disorders, being pregnant and lactating, using drugs that affect sleep patterns, being shift workers, and participants who did not complete the questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of six parts including Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-21), SCOFF (REZZY) Eating Disorders Scale, anthropometric measurements, demographic properties, and nutritional habits. Results: The prevalence of poor sleep quality was found to be 63% and there was no significant difference between gender in terms of sleep quality (p=0.769). There was significant relationship between total TFEQ 21 (p=0.02), SCORF (REZZY) (p<0.001) scores and sleep quality. Uncontrolled eating behaviours was found higher in students with poor sleep quality (p<0.05). Age, body mass index (kg/m2), and smoking were not significant predictors of sleep quality. However, participants with a tendency towards eating disorders behaviour were found to have a significantly higher risk of poor sleep quality (odds ratio [OR]: 2.338, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.444-3.785, p=0.001), as were those with a tendency towards emotional eating behaviour (OR: 1.575, 95% CI: 1.022-2.427, p=0.040). Conclusion: Students with poor sleep quality had higher levels of uncontrolled eating behaviour and a tendency towards unhealthy eating attitudes than those with good sleep quality.
The future of non-wood forest production

Increasing synchronization of local economies with national and international markets has opened up several opportunities and has introduced unforeseen threats, which can have significant impact on the non-wood forest product (NWFP) sector. This paper analyses the recent trends in production and trade related to NWFPs from selected sites in South Asia. It then attempts to extrapolate the same trends to predict the future of NWFP production and suggest some strategies for sustainable management of NWFPs in Asia and the Pacific. Experiences from across the region suggest that NWFP domestication is a viable option to address resource supply constraints. Open access forests are prone to unsustainable harvest from collectors for commercial purposes as they are often not concerned about continued supply of the product. The collection of high value NWFPs from open access forests results in overharvesting and severely affects regeneration due to unsustainable and faulty harvesting methods. Hence, increased commercialization is likely to lead to overharvesting, resource depletion, degradation of forests and depletion of biodiversity and needs stricter enforcement of regulations. On the other hand domestication can reduce the incentives to conserve the ecosystems in which the NWFP species grow naturally. NWFP certification, intensive management, marketing support, popularization of sustainable harvesting techniques and ensuring economic and social equity can assure sustainable production of NWFPs. The review of the NWFP sector across the region suggests that collection of subsistence NWFPs is generally sustainable and does not warrant much concern. Cultivation or enrichment of natural forests with NWFPs (e.g. forest gardens) is by and large sustainable. The cultivation of NWFPs on farmlands needs to be promoted so as to reduce the pressure on the forests and promote income to the people through this sector. However, cultivation of NWFPs on erstwhile forest land or by clearing natural forests is a cause of concern as it depletes biodiversity and affects availability of forest goods and services. In general, the trend of NWFP production is moving away from the forest except the clandestine and illegal trade of high value low volume products which continue to deplete the biodiversity and productivity of forests.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF WIND SPEED DISTRIBUTION BASED ON WEIBULL AND RAYLEIGH METHODS OF ISKENDERUN-TURKEY

In this study, the statistical analysis of wind power density and wind speed distribution parameters in Iskenderun was investigated using the hourly wind speed data measured by the General Directorate of Meteorology between 2005 and 2014. Weibull and Rayleigh distributions were used for modeling and the success of this modeling process was evaluated according to the parameters of R 2 , RMSE and c 2 . The result of the study showed that Iskenderun has a mean wind speed of 2.82 m/s with a maximum value of 4.5 m/s in July of 2006 and a minimum value of 1.68 m/s in November of 2012 while the corresponding mean wind power density is approximately 19.16 W/m 2 for the whole year. The Weibull distribution function was found to be more appropriate than the Rayleigh distribution function.
The Determinants of Cross‐Border Bank Flows to Emerging Markets

This paper studies the determinants of cross‐border bank lending on a panel dataset comprising 17 advanced and 28 emerging market economies from 1993 to 2008. The empirical framework is based on a gravity model of financial flows. Our main findings are that the decrease in cross‐border lending in the 2007–2008 crisis was mostly due to global rather than country‐specific risk factors, and that central and eastern Europe was less affected by this decrease than other emerging market regions because of its stronger financial and monetary ties with creditor countries, and its relatively sound banking systems. These results are fairly robust to several different specifications, sub‐samples and econometric methodologies.
Financial Valuation and Risk Management Working Paper No . 25 How to diversify internationally ? A comparison of conditional and unconditional asset allocation methods

To obtain the maximum benefits from diversification, financial theory suggests that investors should invest internationally because of the larger potential for risk reduction. The question that we raise in this paper is how to select the optimal portfolio of countries? This article synthesizes the major international asset allocation methods based on mean-variance analysis that have been proposed so far in the literature. In particular it compares two types of conditional asset allocation with unconditional methods. The different policies are simulated in a truly ex-ante framework that reflects exactly the uncertainty faced by the portfolio manager at the moment he has to decide upon his future investments. The asset allocation methods are implemented from a Swiss perspective over the period 1988-2001. We find that conditional methods based on direct predictability of expected returns outperform all other asset allocation methods.
Optimal Decentralized Control for MIMO Systems

- In this paper, an input decentralized control strategy is used to decompose MIMO system into many SISO sub systems. Placing the desired pole locations at a predetermined values by ITAE for each subsystem may leads to a slow overall system eigenvalues because of the interactions among each interconnected subsystem and others. Linear quadratic optimal technique is applied over subsystem level in order to shift the slowest obtained pole locations into much more stable places, which in turn shift the slowest overall system eigenvalues and guarantee a higher stability degree. This procedure is repeated many times until all the desired poles are achieved.
Towards a Tensegrity Model of Mental Health

The neuronal cytoskeleton can be seen as a tensegrity network. Microtubules are compression-resistant components and actin filaments tension-resistant components. Alzheimer’s disease sees this healthy network compressed by extracellular amyloid plaques. This leads to collapse of the microtubule/actin tensegrity system and thus dementia. Parkinson’s and epilepsy may be similar in some respects to Alzheimer’s. Depression is seen in Alzheimer’s disease and numerous other neuropathies. This is due to destruction of prestress in the cytoskeletal networks. In Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia microtubules are pathologically stabilised, which can lead to schizophrenia due to too much stress in the cytoskeletal network. Treatments which use the body’s own tensegrity mechanisms including massage, posture, meditation and social contact are likely to be broadly useful.
The Cambridge handbook of English corpus linguistics

The Cambridge Handbook of English Corpus Linguistics (CHECL) surveys the breadth of corpus-based linguistic research on English, including chapters on collocations, phraseology, grammatical variation, historical change, and the description of registers and dialects. The most innovative aspects of the CHECL are its emphasis on critical discussion, its explicit evaluation of the state of the art in each subdiscipline, and the inclusion of empirical case studies. While each chapter includes a broad survey of previous research, the primary focus is on a detailed description of the most important corpus-based studies in this area, with discussion of what those studies found, andwhy they are important. Each chapter also includes a critical discussion of the corpus-based methods employed for research in this area, as well as an explicit summary of new findings and discoveries.
Phraseology : theory, analysis, and applications

PART 1. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES: THE RUSSIAN TRADITION THE CULTURAL ELEMENT PART 2. PHRASEOLOGY IN WRITTEN AND SPOKEN CORPORA PART 3. PHRASEOLOGY IN SPECIAL-PURPOSE LANGUAGES AND FOREIGN-LEARNER LANGUAGE PART 4. PHRASEOLOGY AND THE DICTIONARY
Factor Vector Autoregressive Estimation of Heteroskedastic Persistent and Non Persistent Processes Subject to Structural Breaks

In the paper a general framework for large scale modeling of macroeconomic and financial time series is introduced. The proposed approach is characterized by simplicity of implementation, performing well independently of persistence and heteroskedasticity properties, accounting for common deterministic and stochastic factors. Monte Carlo results strongly support the proposed methodology, validating its use also for relatively small cross-sectional and temporal samples.
Carbon Capture Performance Assessment Applied to Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Under Part-Load Operation

The growing share of renewable energies in our electricity production, together with the still lacking storage capacity, strongly reinforces the need for more flexible electricity production units. In this context, Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGTs) have a role to play, both in the current and future electricity production system due to their high efficiency, high load flexibility
Impact of Acid Rain and Fire on Soil pH in Dwarf Pine Plains, Long Island, New York

Soil pH has been determined on sam ples at 9 sites at depths up to 120 cm in the Dwarf Pine Plains, West Hampton, NY. Four sites were located in the area impacted by the fire of 1995 whi le the rem aining sites were located in the unburned area. pH(CaCl 2) of the soil for all sites increased to a depth of 40-50 cm (from pH 3.5 to 4.4) and was relatively constant below that (around pH 4.0 4.1). Th e lower pH at depths up to 40-50 cm is attributed to the persistent acid rain that this region has been subjected to for the past few decades. The pH at greater depth s may reflect th e soil pH prior to acid rain. In addition, the study also showed that the surface soil pH was greater in sites located in burned areas (3.48) com pared that in unburned areas (3.23) suggesting that burning resulted in an increased soil pH near the surface.