Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Deforestation on the Sustainability of Biodiversity in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor

Tropical rain forests play an essential role in housing global biodiversity, and they accommodate more than 50% of all species in the world while occupying only ~10% of the surface land of the Earth [Myers, 1992; Pimm, 2001]. However, during the last 10,000 years humans have significantly influenced land surface characteristics by altering the vegetation to include plant species more suitable for their consumption, a process that includes converting forests to agricultural lands, livestock grazing, and building settlements [DeFries et al., 2004]. Current rates of deforestation are extremely high and are known to have significant impact on regional and global atmospheric and climate changes [Laurence et al., 2004] in addition to the direct local effects of deforestation. The scale and speed of global habitat loss and fragmentation is alarming, with only about half of the pre-industrial forest areas remaining as forests. These forest fragments are becoming the only refuge for most of the global tropical wildlife, but as these habitats fragment into smaller and smaller pieces and become more isolated, local extinction rates accelerate [Bennett, 1999]. Central America or Mesoamerica, which occupies only 0.5% of the global land area, provides habitat for more than 7% of the world’s species [Mittermeier et al., 2000]. This region has a population growth rate of > 2% per year with high levels of poverty, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, soil erosion and one of the world's highest rates of deforestation, losing 2.1% of forests/year [FAO, 1999]. This scale and speed of habitat loss and forest fragmentation in one of the earth's biologically richest regions has led conservationists to propose the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC) project, an integrated regional initiative intended to conserve biological and ecosystem diversity in a manner that also provides sustainable economic development [Carr et al., 1994; Miller et al., 2001]. The MBC is an ambitious effort intended to connect large existing isolated parks, forest fragments and reserves with new protected areas through an extensive network of biological corridors within the five southern states of Mexico and the Central American countries (Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama). The intent is to establish an environment that provides better prospects for the long-term survival of the native species, provides migratory pathways for the others, and addresses
International Radar Symposium

Cognitive radar is a young discipline with the claim to open the door for next generation radar systems providing a higher efficiency, robust operation via intelligent choice of radar actions, and even a high degree of autonomy. The ideas behind are collected in the two most influential textbooks by Haykin [1] and Guerci [2]. Both contain also experimental results while there are not much papers else presenting real world experience. In this paper we summarize the general approach and discuss two examples for application of cognitive radar.
THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF CENTRAL URBAN PLANNING AN APPROACH BETWEEN F. A. HAYEK’S DISPERSED KNOWLEDGE THEORY AND C. ALEXANDER’S PARTICIPATORY, GRADUALIST AND URBAN-ARCHITECTURAL PROPOSAL

The functioning of cities demands a complex network, which is typical of emerging systems and consists of knowledge and human relations and interactions. Said spontaneous structure is seriously affected when the interventions distinctive of centralized urban planning create, void and reorganize existing connections, which sustain the city’s functioning, disregarding the citizen’s local knowledge and the spaces they formed in buildings and other areas.
Assessment of Upper Limb Spasticity after Stroke: Characterizing Resistance to Passive Stretch and the Impact on Active Control

Spasticity is a common phenomenon following stroke, characterized by involuntary resistance to passive stretch. Clinical assessments of spasticity are challenged as having poor sensitivity and do not describe the impact of spasticity on function. The purpose of this thesis was to objectively measure spasticity and establish the impact of spasticity on active, functional movement. Two studies were undertaken to A) assess kinematic variables that characterize spasticity during passive stretch and B) identify components of active, functional movement impacted by spasticity. Findings for Study 1 revealed that individuals with spasticity exhibit a measurable catch and release at fast velocities of stretch and increased resistance to passive movement at slow velocities. Findings for Study 2 revealed that stability during reaching and use of the more affected side were impacted by spasticity. This work provides a foundation for the development of a clinical assessment of spasticity that includes both passive and active
Effect of constant temperature on development and survival of Lymantria albescens Hori and Umeno and Lymantria xylina Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Lymantriinae) from Okinawa, Japan

We investigated the effect of temperature on the developmental and survival rates in the life stages of the Okinawan gypsy moth, Lymantria albescens, and the casuarina tussock moth L. xylina, from Okinawa, Japan. Under laboratory conditions at constant temperatures of 17.5, 20.0, 22.5, 25.0, 27.5 and 30.0°C, the thermal threshold and thermal constant from larva to adult for L. albescens and L. xylina were 9.1–9.9 and 8.4–11.0°C and 780.8–872.2 and 731.8–1,053.8 degree-days, respectively. Last-instar larvae of males of both species were mostly 6th instars, whereas a large number of female last-instar larvae were 6th and 7th instars. Survival rates of L. albescens and L. xylina were very low at 30.0°C, indicating that these species in Okinawa are not resistant to temperatures higher than 30°C. Our results provide information for predicting the appearance of field populations of L. albescens and L. xylina in Okinawa.
A review of TiO 2 nanostructured catalysts for sustainable H 2 generation

Hydrogen is an attractive alternative to fossil fuels that addresses several environmental and energy shortage issues. Nano-sized TiO2-based photocatalysts with unique structural and functional properties are the most extensively studied photocatalytic nanomaterials for hydrogen production and pollutant degradation. However, titania is hampered by a wide band gap, low utilization of solar light and a rapid recombination of electron/hole pairs. These issues limit its photocatalytic performance. In this review, we present the latest developments in the fabrication of different higher dimensional TiO2 nanostructured materials that aim to address these inherent limitations to an otherwise very promising material. Specifically, we will look into critical engineering strategies to enlarge the active surface area, enhance visible light absorption and suppress the recombination of electrons/ holes that benefit their photo/photoelectric-catalytic water splitting activity. Finally, the current challenges and perspectives for TiO2 nanostructures are also discussed. Continuous efforts are necessary to endow TiO2-based materials with novel advanced functionality and commercialization potential in the coming years. © 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Impact of Family Presence in the Healthcare Setting

Family presence at the patient’s bed side is promoted and encouraged within the healthcare arena. Healthcare staff strive for reports of satisfaction from patients and families. Positive and negative outcomes of family presence on units within the hospital have been assessed, with suggestions for visitation practices and solutions for common concerns. Positive patient outcomes, including accelerated recovery time, increased reports of comfort, and decreased duration of hospital stay are the ultimate goals of hospital care. Research shows that patient outcomes are impacted greatly by family presence. Patientand family-centered care represents the future model of healthcare. Knowledge of these policies and potential consequences of their implementation will guide the practice of nurses and other healthcare professionals.
PERIODONTITIS AND OSTEOPOROSIS

Summary. Periodontitis and osteoporosis are two diseases found in both male and female population worldwide. The main characteristic of the two diseases is their increased intensity with age. Periodontitis is associated with resorption of the alveolar bone. Osteoporosis, as the highest degree of osteopenia, is characterized by bone loss leading to structural bone transformation. The association between periodontitis and loss of the oral bone due to osteoporosis is continually being examined. The aim of the paper is to examine the condition of periodontal tissue in patients suffering from osteoporosis. Fifty patients were examined. The experimental group included 25 patients who were diagnosed with osteoporosis on the basis of the absolute and T-values. Clinical parameters for the evaluation of periodontal condition included plaque index, gingival index, hemorrhage index, periodontal index and tooth loss. The results showed a positive correlation between osteoporosis and tooth loss, while the clinical parameters showed significant differences between patients with osteoporosis and those without it. In conclusion, it can be said that osteoporosis has a significant role in development of periodontitis, as the loss of the oral bone due to osteoporosis can change the process of disease and contribute to a greater tooth loss. In this mutual relationship, some other factors affecting the two diseases should be considered. It is apparent that both diseases should be diagnosed as soon as possible and that it is necessary that a close cooperation between general practitioners and dentists is paramount to prevention and maintenance of optimal health of patients.
Spatial Cognition 2010: Doctoral Colloquium

Figures are a significant component of textbooks and other learning aids, but little is known about how students integrate figures and text while learning geology content. Some previous research has been conducted regarding text and figures, but little of the focus has been on adults, and none of the studies have centered on geology, leaving a need for studies involving how college student integrate text and figures while learning from textbooks. Using eye-tracking technology, our investigation explores the strategies that students use when reading educational materials. Data analysis is still in progress.
Interweaving Monitoring Ac vi es and Model Development towards Enhancing Knowledge of the Soil– Plant–Atmosphere Con nuum

The study of water pathways from the soil to the atmosphere through plants—the so-called soil–plant–atmosphere con nuum (SPAC)—has always been central to agronomy, hydrology, plant physiology, and other disciplines, using a wide range of approaches and tools. In recent years, we have been witnessing a rapid expansion of interweaving monitoring ac vies and model development related to SPAC in clima c, ecological, and applica ons other than the tradi onal agrohydrological, and it is therefore mely to review the current status of this topic and outline future direc ons of research. The ini a ve for the special sec on of Vadose Zone Journal on SPAC emanated from several sessions we recently organized in interna onal conferences and mee ngs. With a view to the specifi c research ques ons covered in this special sec on, this ar cle introduces and reviews SPAC underlying issues and then provides a brief overview of the invited contribu ons. We have grouped together the 15 contribu ons under three main sec ons related to the local, fi eld, and landscape spaal scales of interests. Within these sec ons, the papers present their innova ve results using diff erent measuring techniques (from classic tensiometers and TDR sensors to more advanced and sophis cated equipment based on tomography and geophysics) and different modeling tools (from mechanis c models based on the Richards equa on to more parametrically parsimonious hydrologic balance models). They provide a snapshot of the current state of the art while emphasizing the signifi cant progress a ained in this fi eld of research. New technological developments and applica ons are also highlighted.
K-CONVEXITY IN R

We generalize the concept of K-convexity to an n-dimensional Euclidean space. The resulting concept of K-convexity is useful in addressing production and inventory problems where there are individual product setup costs and/or joint setup costs. We derive some basic properties of K-convex functions. We use the concept to derive the optimal policy in a deterministic case of two products with a joint setup cost. We conclude the paper with some suggestions for future research.
Dual-Hop Amplify-and-Forward Relay Systems with EGC over M2M Fading Channels Under LOS Conditions: Channel Statistics and System Performance Analysis

The recently growing popularity of cooperative diversity [1–3] in wireless networks is due to its ability to mitigate the deleterious fading effects. By utilizing the existing resources of the network, a spatial diversity gain can be achieved without any extra cost resulting from the deployment of a new infrastructure. The fundamental principle of cooperative relaying is that several mobile stations in a network collaborate together to relay the transmit signal from the source mobile station to the destination mobile station. In the simplest mode of operation, the relay nodes just amplify the received signal and forward it towards the destination mobile station. They can also first decode the received signal, encode it again, and then forward it. In both cases, multiple copies of the same signal reach the destination mobile station, which can be combined to achieve a diversity gain by exploiting the virtual antenna array. In addition to the spatial diversity gain, cooperative relaying promises increased capacity, improved connectivity, and a larger coverage range [4–6].
Texture Synthesis and Transfer: Two Approaches

The creation and extension of digital image textures have been problems of wide interest in the computer graphics and vision communities for the last decade. In a sense, textures are what make objects and scenes in this world diverse and appealing. Mapping textures onto 3D models before rendering often gives them a more life-like appearance. Textures can also play a key role in a number of computer vision areas, including object recognition and view morphing. The recent interest and advances in image-based rendering drive a need to extend acquired sample textures to arbitrary shapes and sizes.
Rejoinder on Causal Inference Through Potential Outcomes and Principal Stratification: Application to Studies with ``Censoring'' Due to Death by J. M. Moguerza and A. Munoz

We are very grateful to the Executive Editors George Casella and Edward George for their active interest in our paper and for organizing this challenging discussion. We also thank all the discussants for their insightful and stimulating comments. When we submitted the original manuscript in 2003, we were tempted to go for a more general paper on kernel methods. We decided to focus on support vector machines (SVMs), waiting for a mature development of the new and exciting ideas related to kernel methods, such as manifold learning and other related topics. We will refer to some of these methods below. Let us begin, first, with some general considerations. Regarding the question of the dimensionality induced by the feature space, Hastie and Zhu remark in their comment that usual kernels do not automatically lead to infinite-dimensional feature spaces. They give a nice example that involves the radial (Gaussian) kernel function. This agrees with results in Keerthi and Lin [8], where an explanation of the performance of the Gaussian kernel is given when, according to the notation in the comment by Hastie and Zhu, γ → 0 and λ is chosen in the appropriate way. In this case, the SVM classifier converges to a linear SVM classifier, and the effective dimension of the kernel is finite, agreeing with the empirical conclusion provided by the discussants. We also agree with the assertions of some of the discussants regarding the probabilistic interpretability of the SVM output (the sign of some estimated function). Our comment was rather along the line of Sollich [18], who proposed to make Bayesian methods available for the support vector methodology, while leaving as much as possible of the standard SVM framework intact. This is not an easy task. In fact, as Bartlett, Jordan and McAuliffe remark,
Shifting paradigms: development of high-efficiency biochar fertilizers based on nano-structures and soluble components

Many biochars have a complex carbon lattice structure with aromatic and aliphatic domains, acidic and basic groups, vacancies, metallic and non-metallic elements, and free radicals. Biochars also have separate mineral oxide, silicate and salt phases, and small and large organic molecules. In the rhizosphere, such constituents can be involved in chemical and biological processes along a soil–microbe–plant continuum, including nutrient cycling, metal chelation and stabilization, redox reactions, and free radical scavenging. It is hypothesized that the greater the amount of these nanoparticles and dissolved components, the greater will be plant and microbial responses. We provide suggestions for developing low-dose, high-efficiency biochar–nanoparticle composites, as well as initial field trial results and detailed characterization of such a biochar–fertilizer composite, to highlight the potential of such biochars.
Winter warming from large volcanic eruptions

An examination of the Northern Hemisphere winter surface temperature patterns after the 12 largest volcanic eruptions from 1883-1992 shows warming over Eurasia and North America and cooling over the Middle East which are significant at the 95 percent level. This pattern is found in the first winter after tropical eruptions, in the first or second winter after midlatitude eruptions, and in the second winter after high latitude eruptions. The effects are independent of the hemisphere of the volcanoes. An enhanced zonal wind driven by heating of the tropical stratosphere by the volcanic aerosols is responsible for the regions of warming, while the cooling is caused by blocking of incoming sunlight.
The Editors and Authors of Economics Journals: A Case of Institutional Oligopoly?

This paper examines data on the institutional backgrounds of editors and authors of the top thirty economics journals, identified by their 1995 citation impact. It is revealed, for example, that 70.8 percent of the journal editors were located in the United States and twelve U.S. universities accounted for the location of more than 38.9 percent. Concerning journal article authors, 65.7 percent were located in U.S. institutions and twelve U.S. universities accounted for 21.8 percent. Arguably, the degree of institutional and geographical concentration of editors and authors may be unhealthy for innovative research in economics.
All-Suture Anchor Fixation for Subpectoral Biceps Tenodesis

Subpectoral biceps tenodesis has recently gained significant popularity for addressing lesions of the long head of the biceps. Several techniques have been reported, with fixation devices such as interference screws, bone tunnels, and suture anchors. Complications reported with this procedure include injuries to neurovascular structures and humeral fractures from an increase in stress. We report a new technique that uses an all-suture anchor for fixation. This may offer the advantages of subpectoral biceps tenodesis, and potentially avoid major post-operative complications.
The second Herschel–ATLAS Data Release – III. Optical and near-infrared counterparts in the North Galactic Plane field

This paper forms part of the second major public data release of the Herschel Astrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey (H-ATLAS). In this work, we describe the identification of optical and near-infrared counterparts to the submillimetre detected sources in the 177 deg2 North Galactic Plane (NGP) field. We used the likelihood ratio method to identify counterparts in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and in the United Kingdom InfraRed Telescope Imaging Deep Sky Survey within a search radius of 10 arcsec of the H-ATLAS sources with a 4σ detection at 250 μm. We obtained reliable (R ≥ 0.8) optical counterparts with r < 22.4 for 42 429 H-ATLAS sources (37.8 per cent), with an estimated completeness of 71.7 per cent and a false identification rate of 4.7 per cent. We also identified counterparts in the near-infrared using deeper K-band data which covers a smaller ∼25 deg2. We found reliable near-infrared counterparts to 61.8 per cent of the 250-μm-selected sources within that area. We assessed the performance of the likelihood ratio method to identify optical and near-infrared counterparts taking into account the depth and area of both input catalogues. Using catalogues with the same surface density of objects in the overlapping ∼25 deg2 area, we obtained that the reliable fraction in the near-infrared (54.8 per cent) is significantly higher than in the optical (36.4 per cent). Finally, using deep radio data which covers a small region of the NGP field, we found that 80–90 per cent of our reliable identifications are correct.
The CALYMHA survey: Lyα escape fraction and its dependence on galaxy properties at z = 2.23

We present the first results from our CAlibrating LYMan-$\alpha$ with H$\alpha$ (CALYMHA) pilot survey at the Isaac Newton Telescope. We measure Ly$\alpha$ emission for 488 H$\alpha$ selected galaxies at $z=2.23$ from HiZELS in the COSMOS and UDS fields with a specially designed narrow-band filter ($\lambda_c$ = 3918 {\AA}, $\Delta\lambda$= 52 {\AA}). We find 17 dual H$\alpha$-Ly$\alpha$ emitters ($f_{\rm Ly\alpha} >5\times10^{-17}$ erg s$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$, of which 5 are X-ray AGN). For star-forming galaxies, we find a range of Ly$\alpha$ escape fractions (f$_{\rm esc}$, measured with 3$"$ apertures) from $2$\%$-30$\%. These galaxies have masses from $3\times10^8$ M$_{\odot}$ to 10$^{11}$ M$_{\odot}$ and dust attenuations E$(B-V)=0-0.5$. Using stacking, we measure a median escape fraction of $1.6\pm0.5$\% ($4.0\pm1.0$\% without correcting H$\alpha$ for dust), but show that this depends on galaxy properties. The stacked f$_{\rm esc}$ tends to decrease with increasing SFR and dust attenuation. However, at the highest masses and dust attenuations, we detect individual galaxies with f$_{\rm esc}$ much higher than the typical values from stacking, indicating significant scatter in the values of f$_{\rm esc}$. Relations between f$_{\rm esc}$ and UV slope are bimodal, with high f$_{\rm esc}$ for either the bluest or reddest galaxies. We speculate that this bimodality and large scatter in the values of f$_{\rm esc}$ is due to additional physical mechanisms such as outflows facilitating f$_{\rm esc}$ for dusty/massive systems. Ly$\alpha$ is significantly more extended than H$\alpha$ and the UV. f$_{\rm esc}$ continues to increase up to at least 20 kpc (3$\sigma$, 40 kpc [2$\sigma$]) for typical SFGs and thus the aperture is the most important predictor of f$_{\rm esc}$.
TEX in the GLAMP world: On-demand creation of documents online

The acronym GLAMP is used to denote a combination of GNU/Linux, Apache, MySQL and Perl, Python or PHP, which now is one of the most common technologies for the creation of dynamic web pages. In this paper we describe the use of this technology for automatic creation of medical pedigrees. To make drawing pedigrees easy for medical professionals, we put TEX and PostScript processing of their input on a Web site (http://pedigree. varphi.com). Here we cover both technical aspects of this (integration of TEX with GLAMP) and the preliminary results of using this site in an educational environment.