Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Species‐specific differences in detection and occupancy probabilities help drive ability to detect trends in occupancy

Occupancy-based surveys are increasingly used to monitor wildlife populations because they can be more cost-effective than abundance surveys and because they may track multiple species, simultaneously. The design of these multi-species occupancy surveys affects statistical power to detect trends in occupancy because individual species vary in resource selection, detection probability, and rarity. We tested for differences in the ability of a large-scale monitoring program to detect changes in single-species occupancy of 13 medium–large mammal species captured on n = 183 cameras systematically placed across five national parks in the Canadian Rockies (~21,000 km). We focus the interpretation of our findings on three species at risk: grizzly bear, wolverine, and caribou. We found that statistical power to monitor trends in occupancy depends not only on the established elements associated with power (sampling size, effect size, and variation in estimates), but also on species-specific detection and occupancy probabilities. These two probabilities, however, affected power differently. For most species in our study, power is insensitive to detection probability. Increasing replicate-specific detection probability only improved power when the cumulative detection probability was below 0.80. Therefore, efficient species monitoring must consider that power no longer improves by increasing sample size or the replicate-specific detection probability once this threshold is reached. On the other hand, species with occupancy probabilities close to 0.5 had lower statistical power than those with higher or lower occupancy, that is, power was higher for both rare and very common species. This pattern is due to the heretofore-underappreciated effect of the binomial variation in occupancy. The implications of these findings are species-specific. Grizzly bears, for example, had high detection and occupancy probabilities, resulting in high power to detect a population change. Conversely, wolverines had low detection probability and the power to detect change could be improved if detection probability was increased using lure or complimentary survey techniques. Caribou, however, with both low detection and occupancy probabilities, were likely too rare on the landscape to rely on camera-based occupancy for monitoring. Practitioners should be aware of these species-specific trade-offs and may need to tailor monitoring programs to prioritize particular species of conservation concern.
The Nile Project: Creating harmony through music in the Nile Basin region

The use of the arts as a tool for conflict transformation, or what has been called arts based peacebuilding, is a new and emerging field. Yet, there is sparse empirical evidence on its outcomes. The Nile Project, a musical collaborative from East Africa that brings together musicians from all of the countries that border the Nile River, is aimed at finding a solution to the dire water conflict and crisis in the region. This study aims to explore how their collaborative process of creating and performing music despite their linguistic, cultural, musical, and political differences, can illuminate how music can be used to address conflict. Using a combination of collaborative qualitative and artsinformed research methodologies, original members of the collective as well as the cofounder were interviewed. Observations were also done of the musicians’ rehearsals, performances, and classroom visits at a New England University. Findings suggest that an outcome of the Nile Project’s work is the development of relationships, deeper learning, particularly about other Africans, and that the process of making music with those from diverse musical traditions can act as a way to practice peacebuilding skills: creating unity, while honoring diversity. This study seeks to add to a limited amount of research documenting the arts in peacebuilding suggesting that music might be an effective tool for transforming conflict.
Identifying social markers from network data based on location, mobility and proximity

of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy IDENTIFYING SOCIAL MARKERS FROM NETWORK DATA BASED ON LOCATION, MOBILITY AND PROXIMITY By Udayan Kumar December 2012 Chair: Ahmed Helmy Major: Computer Engineering The ubiquitous spread of mobile devices, global connectivity and tight coupling of mobile phones with the users has lead to an era, where mobile phones have become alter ego of the users. Mobile devices accompany users to places where not even the closest of family and friends are allowed (e.g. office, meetings, conferences among other places). The access to these movement and network access logs from mobile devices can shed light on human behavior, which in turn can be used to solve several research challenges. In this work, we present our measurements, analysis and designs obtained by utilizing network traces collected at both personal and group level. We have used network traces from several thousands of devices to understand, identify and extract social markers or characteristics. The social markers we have studied include social grouping based on gender, proximity-based trust and the difficulty of anonymizing traces because of mobility. In the first part, we discuss how social-grouping information can be extract from anonymized network traces. Using a gender-based case study, we demonstrate our approach, along with different methods to validate the results. In the second part, we study the fundamental trade off between the utility of WLAN traces and privacy of the users. We show how privacy of users in anonymized traces can be compromised. In the third and the final part, we implement, and evaluate an effective framework to establish
Updating land cover automatically based on change detection using satellite images: case study of national forests in Southern California

Observing dynamic change patterns and higher-order complexities from remotely sensed images is warranted, but the main challenges include image inconsistency, plant phenological differences, weather variations, and difficulties of incorporating natural conditions into automatic image processing. In this study, we proposed a new algorithm and demonstrated it by producing 2002–2008 and 2010 land-cover maps in heterogeneous Southern California based on an existing 2009 land-cover map. The new algorithm improves the baseline land-cover map quality by discarding potential bad land-cover pixels and dividing each land-cover type into several subclasses. Time series Landsat images were used to detect changed and unchanged areas between baseline year and target year t. Subsequently, for each individual year t, each pixel that was identified as unchanged inherited the baseline classification. Otherwise, each pixel in the changed areas was classified by a similar surrogate majority classifier. The demonstration results in Southern California showed that the land-cover temporal pattern captured the observed successional stages of the ecosystem very well. The accuracy assessment had an overall classification accuracies ranging from 81% to 86% and overall kappa coefficients ranging from 0.79 to 0.83.
Hardware Efficient Transposable 8T SRAM for Orthogonal Data Access

This paper presents a novel 8T SRAM bitcell-based transposable (TP) memory supporting both row-wise and column-wise data access. The proposed TP-SRAM enables orthogonal data access with additional diagonal word-lines and a low-complexity addressing scheme. To reduce cell array area overhead, the proposed TP-SRAM adopts a bitcell structure that can share all aspects of layout with adjacent cells like standard 6T-SRAM. We also propose a bidirectional barrel shifter based on dynamic logic gates to minimize the hardware cost required for the TP addressing scheme. In the proposed bidirectional barrel shifter, area and delay are minimized by using two complementary dynamic inverting MUXs that can balance the number of NMOS and PMOS transistors. The proposed 16Kb TP-SRAM implemented in 28nm CMOS technology has 17% reduced power, 52% faster operation delay, and 39% smaller area compared to the state-of-the-art.
Understanding the Varied Influence of Midlatitude Jet Position on Clouds and Cloud Radiative Effects in Observations and Global Climate Models

AbstractThis study examines the dynamical mechanisms responsible for changes in midlatitude clouds and cloud radiative effects (CRE) that occur in conjunction with meridional shifts in the jet streams over the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Southern Oceans. When the midlatitude jet shifts poleward, extratropical cyclones and their associated upward vertical velocity anomalies closely follow. As a result, a poleward jet shift contributes to a poleward shift in high-topped storm-track clouds and their associated longwave CRE. However, when the jet shifts poleward, downward vertical velocity anomalies increase equatorward of the jet, contributing to an enhancement of the boundary layer estimated inversion strength (EIS) and an increase in low cloud amount there. Because shortwave CRE depends on the reflection of solar radiation by clouds in all layers, the shortwave cooling effects of midlatitude clouds increase with both upward vertical velocity anomalies and positive EIS anomalies. Over midlatitude oce.
A Novel Analysis of Super-Resolution for Born-Iterative-Type Algorithms in Microwave Medical Sensing and Imaging

Microwave medical sensing and imaging (MMSI) is a highly active research field. In MMSI, electromagnetic inverse scattering (EIS) is a commonly used technique that infers the internal characteristics of the diseased area by measuring the scattered field. It is worth noting that the image formed by EIS often exhibits the super-resolution phenomenon, which has attracted much research interest over the past decade. A classical perspective is that multiple scattering leads to super-resolution, but this is subject to debate. This paper aims to analyze the super-resolution behavior for Born-iterative-type algorithms for the following three aspects. Firstly, the resolution defined by the traditional Rayleigh criterion can only be applied to point scatterers. It does not suit general scatterers. By using the Sparrow criterion and the generalized spread function, the super-resolution condition can be derived for general scatterers even under the Born approximation (BA) condition. Secondly, an iterative algorithm results in larger coefficients in the high-frequency regime of the optical transfer function compared to non-iterative BA. Due to the anti-apodization effect, the spread function of the iterative method becomes steeper, which leads to a better resolution following the definition of the Sparrow criterion mentioned above. Thirdly, the solution from the previous iteration, as the prior knowledge for the next iteration, will cause changes in the total field, which provides additional information outside the Ewald sphere and thereby gives rise to super-resolution. Comprehensive numerical examples are used to verify these viewpoints.
Nature of bank erosion along the Brahmaputra river channel, Assam, India

A study on a selected stretch of the Brahmaputra river channel revealed that the mechanisms involved and responsible for riverbank erosion were basically related to aqueous flow of sediments (liquefaction) enhanced by theinhomogeneity in the bank materials in question, oversteepening and associated sub-aerial processes of weathering and weakening in relation to soil moisture content. The study revealed that the extent of erosion and deposition in not same for the period 1914-75 and 1975-98. Different scale and nature of shear failure are considered to be mainly responsible for bank erosion processes.
Response of grasshoppers to the agricultural mosaics of the Cape Floristic Region biodiversity hotspot in South Africa

The impact of expansion and intensification of agriculture on biodiversity requires quantification, especially in areas of exceptionally high biodiversity like the Cape Floristic Region (CFR). In the CFR, landscape mosaics consist of agriculture alongside Mediterraneantype fynbos scrubland natural vegetation rich in endemic insect species. However, little is known about how ground-dwelling insect herbivores utilize the various elements of the mosaic. I compared species richness, abundance, species composition, diversity and evenness of grasshoppers among 46 sites in four geographical areas in the CFR. I investigated three land-use types: fynbos (the historic condition as reference), vineyards and deciduous fruit orchards, the main production types in the region. Grasshopper abundance was significantly higher in vineyards than in fynbos or orchards. Species richness, diversity, and evenness were highest in fynbos followed by vineyards and then orchards. Orchards had no unique species, vineyards two, and fynbos 14 unique species. Nevertheless, there was overall high species similarity among all three land-use types, with high species assemblage similarities between vineyards and orchards. Species that preferred fynbos were mostly flightless and endemic to the CFR. I show that agricultural areas do not support the entire species assemblage of natural vegetation, although Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
Performance Evaluation of Microscanner Plus, an Automated Image-Based Cell Counter, for Counting CD4+ T Lymphocytes in HIV Patients

Counting CD4+ T lymphocytes using flow cytometry is a standard method for monitoring patients with HIV infections. Simpler and cheaper alternatives to flow cytometry are in high demand because getting access to flow cytometers is difficult or impossible in resource-limited settings. We evaluated the performance of the Microscanner Plus, a simple and automated image-based cell counter, in determining CD4 counts against a flow cytometer. CD4 count results of the Microscanner Plus and flow cytometer were compared using samples from 47 HIV-infected patients and 87 healthy individuals. All CV% for precision and reproducibility tests were less than 10%. The Microscanner Plus’s lowest detectable CD4 count was determined to be 15.27 cells/µL of whole blood samples. The correlation coefficient (R) between Microscanner Plus and flow cytometry for CD4 counting in 134 clinical samples was very high, at 0.9906 (p < 0.0001). The automated Microscanner Plus showed acceptable analytical performance for counting CD4+ T lymphocytes and may be particularly useful for monitoring HIV patients in resource-limited settings.
Relative Impedance-Based Internal Force Control for Bimanual Robot Teleoperation With Varying Time Delay

For a bimanual robot teleoperation system, the internal forces affecting the common deformable manipulation object are determined by both robot arms’ actions. F/T sensorless, uncertain dynamics, and varying time delays increase dramatically the control difficulty for system stability and transparency. To address these problems, an internal force control method based on relative impedance is proposed in this paper. First, we deduce the desired positions to decrease internal force tracking errors and abstract the internal force from the product of the relative distance and impedance. Second, two strategies are adopted for reducing internal force tracking errors and motion synchronization. One is designing an adaptive factor to switch authorities for position control and internal force control. The other is proposing a force estimating method to the coupled item of uncertain dynamics, disturbance, and internal forces. Different parts of the coupled item are divided and solved separately by nonlinear characters. An integral sliding surface based on the relative impedance item is designed to minimize the force tracking errors. Finally, the effectiveness of the method is verified by linear matrix inequalities based on Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional synthesis, and an experiment based on a physical robot system is implemented to validate the proposed method.
Aligning assessment methods with different types of competences in Engineering

The TALOE (Time to Assess Learning Outcomes in E-learning) EU-funded project approaches the eassessment concept by using technology for assessing students’ learning. The project is building on the foundations of previous developments on this issue, an existing tool for the Alignment of Learning Outcomes and Assessment, the ALOA model, which uses the revised version of Bloom’s Taxonomy to establish the link between the LOs and general assessment methods. The TALOE project uses the same methodology but adapted to the specific context of e-learning and e-assessment. The main goal of TALOE is to develop a web-based platform to help teachers and trainers decide on the eassessment strategies to use in their online courses. This tool is aimed to raise teachers’ awareness about the variety of e-assessment strategies in order to achieve better quality of the learning process. TALOE assumes that a teacher/trainer will describe the learning outcomes of the course or module and then use the TALOE web tool online to analyse them and provide the most appropriated eassessment strategy that is consistent with the set of intended learning outcomes. In order to achieve this, the TALOE consortium has: conducted desk research and selected innovative e-assessment practices that take advantage of the use of technology; developed a web-based tool that is easy to use by the stakeholders; tested the implementation of the tool with real case studies; promoted the TALOE tool among the communities of stakeholders who have accepted to test the web tool and give feedback. During the EDULEARN session, the TALOE web tool will be presented and demonstrated, so participants can see how it works.
Interactions among temperature, moisture, and oxygen concentrations in controlling decomposition rates in a boreal forest soil

Abstract. Determining environmental controls on soil organic matter decomposition is of importance for developing models that predict the effects of environmental change on global soil carbon stocks. There is uncertainty about the environmental controls on decomposition rates at temperature and moisture extremes, particularly at high water content levels and high temperatures. It is uncertain whether observed declines in decomposition rates at high temperatures are due to declines in the heat capacity of extracellular enzymes as predicted by thermodynamic theory, or due to simultaneous declines in soil moisture. It is also uncertain whether oxygen limits decomposition rates at high water contents. Here we present the results of a full factorial experiment using organic soils from a boreal forest incubated at high temperatures (25 and 35 °C), a wide range of water-filled pore space (WFPS; 15, 30, 60, 90 %), and contrasting oxygen concentrations (1 and 20 %). We found support for the hypothesis that decomposition rates are high at high temperatures, provided that enough moisture and oxygen are available for decomposition. Furthermore, we found that decomposition rates are mostly limited by oxygen concentrations at high moisture levels; even at 90 % WFPS, decomposition proceeded at high rates in the presence of oxygen. Our results suggest an important degree of interaction among temperature, moisture, and oxygen in determining decomposition rates at the soil core scale.
Chapter 7 Determinants of Successful Code-Sharing: A Case Study of Continental and America West Airlines Alliances – A Discrete Longitudinal Analysis

Code-sharing, a phenomenon observed in international airline markets, has emerged as an important form of alliance in the domestic U.S. airline industry. Unlike international markets where code-share agreements were often the only way for a carrier to enter into a route serving another country, the post-1980 U.S. airline industry has enjoyed de facto free entry and exit. However, the financial conditions of the mid-1990s combined with various constraints on airport and airspace capacity led domestic carriers to experiment with code-sharing.
Willingness to try food with the application of nanotechnology

O objetivo deste trabalho é propor um modelo para avaliar os fatores que influenciam a disposição de experimentar (WTT) alimentos com a aplicação da nanotecnologia. A pesquisa foi realizada com consumidores brasileiros responsáveis pela compra de alimentos (n = 244). Os dados foram analisados por meio de Modelagem de Equações Estruturais (SEM). Os resultados mostraram que a percepção de segurança do alimento e aspectos de nutrição adequados tiveram efeitos positivos significativos na disposição de experimentar alimentos com a aplicação da nanotecnologia, enquanto o nível de consumo de alimentos sustentáveis não foi significativo, assim como a neofobia alimentar e a percepção de aplicação de tecnologia. Um resultado adicional demonstrou que há diferença entre a disposição de experimentar dos Millennials e a da Geração X, indicando maior abertura dos Millennials. Considerando as variáveis significativas, os formuladores de políticas, instituições e pesquisadores envolvidos no mercado de nanotecnologia devem se esforçar para fornecer ao consumidor melhores informações sobre os benefícios dos alimentos com a aplicação da nanotecnologia, sua relação com o meio ambiente e suas vantagens nutricionais e de segurança em relação aos alimentos convencionais. Somente com informações adequadas os consumidores poderão desenvolver valores e efetivar o comportamento mais adequado para eles.
A Study on Competitiveness of Cruise Tourism in Port Cities Based on Entropy-TOPSIS

The cruise tourism is the new developing trend of tourism.Analyzing the cruise tourism competitiveness of port cities is meaningful to make out the spatial layout of cruise tourism competitiveness and discern the advantages and disadvantages of developing cruise tourism in port cities.On constructing the comprehensive index system,the paper builds an evaluation model of cruise tourism competitiveness based on entropy-TOPSIS,then it analyzes Shanghai,Tianjin,Shenzhen and other 9 port cities empirically and penetrates into the differences among them.The results show that: there is a great disparity in the competiveness of cruise tourism among the port cities.In order to avoid unnecessary waste of resources brought about by blind competition,the co-petition relationship 、accurate positioning and diversified development should be considered.