Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alterations of the structure of Posidonia oceanica beds due to the introduced alga Caulerpa taxifolia

The impact of Caulerpa taxifolia on the structure of shallow Posidonia oceanica beds was studied in permanent quadrats from 1995 to 2005 at the invaded site of Cap Martin and the control site of Cap d’Antibes (French Riviera, France). The cover of C. taxifolia , shoot density, number of orthotropic and plagiotropic shoots and proportion of ramifications of P. oceanica were measured yearly. The cover of C. taxifolia in the invaded zone rapidly reached a maximum of infestation in 2000 with 93% of the quadrats covered by the alga. In 2001 an unexplained phenomenon led to a sharp decrease in the infestation and in the following years the colonisation remained low. Within the 10 years of the study, P. oceanica did not disappear from the permanent quadrats, but we observed a drastic change in the structure of the meadow invaded by C. taxifolia . Between 1999 and 2000 a decrease in the shoot density observed at both sites was probably related to the warm temperature event recorded in 1999 (from 636 to 143 shoots m -2 at the invaded site and from 488 to 277 at the control site). At the invaded site, the seagrass never recovered its initial density even after a sharp decrease in C. taxifolia . The orthotropic/plagiotropic shoot ratio was strongly modified at the invaded site, where plagiotropic shoots became dominant because of an increase in their ramification.
FACTORS INFLUENCING ADOPTION OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN NORTHEAST GREENHOUSE ORNAMENTALS A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by

We conducted ninety-four surveys among small growers of greenhouse ornamental in three Northeastern states to examine factors that influence IPM adoption. We construct four alternative dependent variables describing the extent of IPM adoption, and employ Standard Logit, Ordered Logit and Tobit models to indentify factors affecting IPM adoption. We find that IPM adopters are more likely to operate large farms, use more full time workers, and have diversified operations to include vegetables. Greenhouses that suffered serious disease problems are less likely to adopt IPM practices; the position of head growers in the greenhouse operations is also influential in IPM adoption. Our findings reveal that unavailability of biological control agents is a great hindrance for growers to adopt IPM. Our analysis also highlights substantial difference between the self-reported IPM measure and the three objective IPM measures.
Dynamic and Supervised Topic Models for Literature-Based Discovery

Abstract : Under the support of the ONR my research focused on extending the state ot the an or probabilistic topic modeling, algorithms for making discoveries from and predictions about large collections of texts. For the past three years, my group has published many papers in the service of this goal. In this report, I will highlight some of the themes and publications that represent this work. Thanks to the support of the ONR, we have made excellent progress in our stated goals.
The Relationship Between Users’ Cognitive Styles and Their Navigation Behaviors on the World Wide Web

The purpose of this paper is to model users’ cognitive styles based on user web navigation patterns. The main aim is to investigate whether fuzzy clustering technique can group users in particular cognitive styles by means of psychometric test and navigation behavior analysis. Three navigation metrics are utilized to find identifiable groups of users that have similar navigation patterns in relation to their cognitive styles. Index of Learning questionnaire (ILS) is applied to extracting users’ cognitive styles. Users’ navigation behaviors are analyzed using a reproduced version of a brief introduction webpage of “Suishouji”.
A laboratory study of the Schmidt number dependency of air-water gas transfer

Using a novel fast technique to measure gas transfer velocities, the dependency of gas transfer on the Schmidt number exponent n could be determined with a high precision. It was shown that the transition of n from a smooth (n = 2/3) to a rough (n = 1/2) surface extends over a larger range of wind speeds. The facet model assumes that an increasing fraction of exchange happens with an exponent of 1/2 and links this fraction with a physical property of the wave field, the mean squared slope σ s . This new model could be successfully applied to gas exchange rates measurements in two different wind-wave facilities.
Epilepsy, Stigmatization and Media Campaigns: An Assessment of Rise Clinic Experience

Stigmatization associated with health related cases is often a challenge in health management. A person is stigmatized when he or she is a carrier of a dangerous disease such as HIV or Ebola. Epilepsy is a brain disorder that is symptomatic with seizures but the knowledge about the disease is always twisted with cultural mythology especially here in Nigeria. The study which was inspired by The Nigeria Epilepsy Care Advance Programme (NECAP) is set to determine patterns of media exposure on campaigns against epilepsy; impact of media campaign in seeking medical assistance; impact of media campaign in understanding epilepsy as a public health concern and to establish stigmatization as a threat to epileptic patients in social and cultural activities in the society. In-depth interviews were granted to 30 epileptic patients registered in RISE Clinic NECAP program. Also 400 non-epileptic persons were surveyed across the three senatorial zones using simple random sampling. It was discovered that there is poor media campaign against epilepsy and epileptic patients are usually stigmatized in our society. Therefore, government and nongovernmental organizations through the media should embark on public education and enlightenment.
The Relationship between Islamic Religion and Ethical Leadership: The Case of Kuwaiti Private Sector

Empirical research on how Islam influences leaders’ behaviours and business practices is not easily available. The separation of church and state has never been an Islamic precept; therefore, this paper investigates how Islamic religion affects ethical leadership amongst Kuwait’s private sector leaders. Using a constructionist approach within which 40 leaders from Kuwaiti private sector organisations were interviewed, in the banking, investment, real estate and services sectors. The study provides important insights into the concepts related to good and ethical leadership in a non-Western environment and enriches our knowledge in this sector of the management field.
Constraining rates and trends of historical wetland loss, Mississippi River Delta Plain, south-central Louisiana

The timing, magnitude, and rate of wetland loss were described for five wetland-loss hotspots in the Terrebonne Basin of the Mississippi River delta plain. Land and water areas were mapped for 34 dates between 1956 and 2004 from historical National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) datasets, aerial photographs, and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite images. Since 1956, the emergent land area at the five study areas in south-central Louisiana has decreased by about 50%. Comparison of the water-area curve derived from the 29 TM images with water-level records from the nearby Grand Isle, Louisiana tide gauge (NOS #8761724) clearly shows that changes in land and water areas fluctuate in response to variations in regional water levels. The magnitude of water-area fluctuations decreased from the 1980s to the 1990s as former areas of wet marsh within and immediately adjacent to the wetland-loss hotspots became permanently submerged. The most rapid wetland loss occurred during the late 1960s and 1970s. Peak wetland-loss rates during this period were two to four times greater than both the pre-1970s background rates and the most recent wetland-loss rates. These results provide constraints on predicting future delta-plain wetland losses and identify Landsat TM imagery as an important source for analyzing landand water-area changes across the entire delta plain. 371 Published in Coastal Environment and Water Quality (ed. by Y. J. Xu & V. P. Singh), 371-382. © 2006 Water Resources Publications, LLC, Highlands Ranch, CO 80163-0026, USA 30 / J.C. Bernier, R.A. Morton, and J.A. Barras
A Bayesian Foundation for Classical Hypothesis Testing

When a decision-maker is surprised by a pattern unaccounted for in his prior, he may wish to change his beliefs in a way which violates Bayes’ rule, but this practice (under suitable background assumptions) will cause dynamic inconsistency. He may wish to limit this inconsistency. We show that if these non-Bayesian updates, which we call \paradigm shifts," are rare, in the sense that they occur only with a small probability according to the decision-maker’s initial belief, the decision-maker will be \approximately" dynamically consistent. Our notion of \approximate" dynamic consistency is that the possible arbitrage against the decision-maker is small compared to the size of his transactions. The quantity is equivalent to the level of a classical hypothesis test, so our results provide a decision-theoretic foundation for the classical criteria for rejecting a null hypothesis. Our ndings give the decision-maker some latitude to revise his model while
On Distinguishing Attack Against the Reduced Version of the Cipher Nlsv2

ABSTRACT The Australian stream cipher NLSv2 [Hawkes, P.-Paddon, M. -Rose, G. G. -De Vries, M. W. : Primitive specification for NLSv2, Project eSTREAM web page, 2007, 1-25] is a 32-bit word oriented stream cipher that was quite successful in the stream ciphers competition-the project eSTREAM. The cipher achieved Phase 3 and successfully accomplished one of the main requirements for candidates in Profile 1 (software oriented proposals)-to have a better performance than AES in counter mode. However the cipher was not chosen into the final portfolio [Babbage, S. -De Canni`ere, Ch.-Canteaut, A. -Cid, C. -Gilbert, H. -Johansson, T. -Parker, M. -Preneel, B. -Rijmen, V. -Robshaw, M. : The eSTREAM Portfolio, Project eSTREAM web page, 2008], because its performance was not so perfect when comparing with other finalist. Also there is a security issue with a high correlation in the used S-Box, which some effective distinguishers exploit. In this paper, a practical demonstration of the distinguishing attack against the smaller version of the cipher is introduced. In our experiments, we have at disposal a machine with four cores (Intel® CoreTM Quad @ 2.66 GHz) and single attack lasts about 6 days. We performed successful practical experiments and our results demonstrate that the distingushing attack against the smaller version is working.
Trends of IoT

: The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects or "things “embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data. The Internet of Things allows objects to be sensed and controlled remotely across existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for more direct integration between the physical world and computer-based systems, and resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy and economic benefit. Each thing is uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system but is able to interoperate within the existing Internet infrastructure. Experts estimate that the IoT will consist of almost 50 billion objects by 2020. The IoT is enabled by the latest developments in RFID, smart sensors, communication technologies, and Internet protocols. The basic premise is to have smart sensors collaborate directly without human involvement to deliver a new class, of applications. The current revolution in Internet, mobile, and machine-to-machine (M2M) technologies can be seen as the first phase of the IoT. In the coming years, the IoT is expected to bridge diverse technologies to enable new applications by connecting physical objects together in support of intelligent decision making. IOT mainly contains six elements to manage its operations identification, sensing, communication, computation, services and semantics. Single Board Computers (SBCs) integrated with sensors and built-in TCP/IP and security functionalities are typically used to realize IoT products (e.g., Arduino Yun, Raspberry PI, Beagle Bone Black, etc.). Such devices typically connect to a central management portal to provide the required data by customers. IOT uses IPv6 addresses to exchange the data between physical objects. IoT protocols are divided into four broad categories, namely: application protocols, service discovery protocols, infrastructure protocols and other influential protocols. Common Operating Systems that are used in IoT environments are Tiny OS, Contiki, Lite OS, Riot OS and Android. Smart buildings, Smart home, smart Grids, smart City and smart healthcare are different services that are provided by IoT.
A Study of Fuzzy Quantitative Items Based on Weighted Association Rules Mining

The weighted association rules mining is more significative than traditional association rules mining in practice. Allowing for the impact of the number and weight of property on association rules, this paper presents a new method of mining weighted association rules, which can hold the " downward closed property " by using an improved model of weighted support measurements in the weighted setting. Compared to some generalized weighted association rules mining, it proves that the method can quickly and efficiently mine important association rules. Keywords-weighted association rules; weighted support; quantitative itemsets
Nationalization is a Direct Enemy to Entrepreneurship and it Kills Entrepreneurial Spirit: The Case of South Africa

This paper traces the historical background of nationalisation in South Africa and examines the views of the ANC Youth League in the light of the current debate on nationalization in South Africa. It draws lessons from the Zambian experience and put them into perspective. It is observed that nationalisation is usually followed by privatization and then renationalization. The requirement of a 60% stake in mining companies is significantly high and deters investors as they are unable to get a controlling interest in their own companies from the onset. A volatile legislative environment further aggravates the situation.
Low mercury contamination in Mediterranean gull Larus melanocephalus chicks in Greece

Mercury (Hg), a toxic heavy metal harmful to animals, commonly occurs in Mediterranean ecosystems. Mediterranean gull Larus melanocephalus numbers have declined considerably in Greece since the 1990s. Mediterranean gull chicks’ back feathers were therefore collected from three Greek colonies in different years between 1999 and 2009 to assess Hg pollution in this larid. Hg concentrations varied with arithmetic means ranging between 815 ng g−1 dry weight (dw) (Lafri Lagoon in 2000) and 1264 ng g−1 dw (Evros Delta in 2000), and values were independent of chick age, although significant among-year and among-site variations were found. Hg concentrations in Greek Mediterranean gull chick feathers were generally low and in fact lower than those associated with adverse effects in other bird species. Comparisons with other studies revealed that Hg concentrations in Mediterranean gulls from Greece were mostly lower than those found in other gull species elsewhere in the world. This study presents the first data on Hg contamination in the Mediterranean gull. The results might be useful in understanding and evaluating the birds’ exposure to this highly toxic pollutant and its impact on both local populations and the wider ecosystem.
Reproductive biology of lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus): An important key to the conservation of an endangered species

The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), endemic to rainforests of the Western Ghats in southern India, is an endangered species. Most of its population now lives in fragmented pockets of rainforests. Considerable research has been carried out on its reproductive biology both on wild and captive populations in North America and Europe. We review studies carried out on birth seasonality, life-history parameters, and reproductive physiology and behaviour. The captive populations differ considerably from wild populations on several parameters of reproductive biology. Because of a low population turnover in this species due to a delayed age at first birth and long inter-birth intervals, and further degradation of its natural habitats, rapid population replenishment or augmentation is unlikely. This article shows that the study of reproductive biology may provide an important key to the conservation of this species. It also indicates that several aspects of reproductive biology of lion-tailed macaque still remain to be addressed.
Gambling with lives for political survival: How democratic governments respond to casualties during military interventions

Foreign policy decisions shape how a nation acts on the international stage. Those decisions are characterized by high stakes, uncertainty, and risk (Renshon & Renshon, 2008). Yet, politicians also face domestic audiences (e.g., the media, voters) who hold them accountable for their actions. Leaders depend on their followers for support since it legitimizes their power. So, why do politicians, if they want to avoid loss of power, follow through on unsuccessful and costly military interventions, such as recent interventions into Afghanistan and Iraq?
Estimation of the contouring error vector for the cross-coupled control design

In biaxial motion systems, applying the cross-coupled control (CCC) significantly improves contouring accuracy for linear and circular contours. As geometrical and parametric curves become more popular in modern manufacturing, machining processes with multiaxis motion systems are required, however, the available biaxial CCC cannot be directly applied to arbitrary contours with multiaxis machining systems. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for arbitrary contours by estimating the contouring error vector to efficiently determine the variable gains for CCC. Experimental results for a biaxial motion system indicate that the proposed approach efficiently yields variable gains similar to those in traditional CCC. Furthermore, results on a three-axis CNC machining center show that the present approach significantly improves motion accuracy in multiaxis motion systems.
Assessing the Potential for "Cultural Disruption" through Sharing Economy: A Case Study of a Time Bank in Helsinki

A better networked society has the potential to facilitate utopian ideals that embrace modes of sharing economy through the advent of the better utilization of community resources. Much has been expected of new digital communication spaces capable of linking individuals with each other outside the ambit of governments and mega-conglomerates. However, due to evolving corporate and marketing strategies, and national legal frameworks, there has been no clear demonstration of a truly alternative economic system. The recent interest in collaborative or sharing economy calls attention once more to this potential. This article presents and analyses a time-banking initiative, Stadin Aikapankki, in Helsinki, Finland. It explores the motivations behind the formation of this sharing economy community initiative, how it relates to and is expressed in terms of utopian aims and ideals, and whether this case study is able to maintain aspects of cultural disruption in the face of pressures from mainstream national actors.
Teaching in Higher Education: A Personal Account Seen through a Perspective of "Otherness" at a Swedish University.

This study is based on personal experiences. It adopts an auto ethnographic approach and action research perspective in an attempt to describe and reflect on my experience as a teacher in a University where I have worked for just over a year; the study also examines factors that have helped me in my role as a teacher to effect change in my praxis. The paper also addresses the challenges facing higher education teachers in general (with particular reference to a teacher with a foreign background) in a western university setting. Although the study does not arrive at any specific conclusions, which was not the intention either, the reflective account and recognition of the problem revolving around the teaching process and the day to day interaction with students as well as the staff, is of paramount importance in its own right. I begin with my personal life in connection with teaching and learning. I have focused on my own feelings, thoughts and emotions, and have used what I call systematic sociological introspection and emotional recall to try to understand an experience I have lived through and I am currently experiencing at a Swedish university. It is a reflective approach to the issue of improving teaching: What does it take to improve teaching while enduring the feeling of “otherness”? How does one evaluate and arrange for the improvement of teaching in order to bring about student learning? For me this personal narrative is about moral work and ethical practice. As the problems of teachers are shared with other teachers elsewhere or in the same school, my reflexivity and personal narrative may benefit others in a similar situation. Our lives are particular but they also are typical and generalizable, since we all participate in a limited number of cultures and institutions. Some readers may well identify with this situation or know others who do.
A Quality Measurement Framework for Turkish Firms: Validation of an Instrument

Despite the increasing popularity of total quality management (TQM) during past decade, there is no systematic attempt had been made in Turkish literature to organize and synthesize the various sets of critical quality factors. To overcome this limitation, the present study attempted to determine if the TQM critical factors identified by Saraph et al. (1989) were pertinent to Turkish firms. The question form was sent to 400 members of Small and Medium Industry Development Organization (KOSGEB) with 84 responding. Using data from these firms, reliability and validity of an instrument is tested. In conclusion, the researcher determined that, the instrument developed by Saraph et al. appears to be reliable and valid for the measurement of the quality management practices of Turkish firms. A framework for application of an instrument also discussed.
Analysis of ground return impedance calculation methods for modeling of underground cables for lightning studies

Analysis of lightning transients in cable systems necessitates accurate calculation of ground return impedances (GRIs) in high-frequency regions. EMT-type programs used for transient analyses incorporate various methods for calculation of GRI. Most of these methods include assumptions and approximations, the validity of which needs to be questioned at high frequencies. In particular, the common approximation of the neglecting effect of displacement currents should be reviewed. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate commonly used GRI calculation methods in terms of their accuracy and validity in high-frequency regions. In this study, GRI calculation methods are analyzed and compared, the effect of displacement currents is evaluated, and validity ranges of the basic calculation formula (Pollaczek formula) are discussed. It is shown that for high-resistivity and high-permittivity soil cases, the effect of displacement currents must be taken into account in high-frequency regions. Most default calculation routines in EMT-type programs neglect this effect. Therefore, it is very important to review and understand the calculation methods used in EMT-type programs before employing them in high-frequency transient analyses. Moreover, it is shown that in most of the practical cases the basic calculation formula (Pollaczek formula) is valid for the frequency range of interest for lightning studies.