Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative evaluation of seven optical sensors for cloud microphysical measurements at the Puy-de-Dôme Observatory, France

Abstract. Clouds have an important role in Earth's radiative budget. Since the late 1970s, considerable instrumental developments have been made in order to quantify cloud microphysical and optical properties, for both airborne and ground-based applications. Intercomparison studies have been carried out in the past to assess the reliability of cloud microphysical properties inferred from various measurement techniques. However, observational uncertainties still exist, especially for droplet size distribution measurements and need to be reduced. In this work, we discuss results from an intercomparison campaign, performed at the Puy de Dome in May 2013. During this campaign, a unique set of cloud instruments was operating simultaneously in ambient air conditions and in a wind tunnel. A Particle Volume Monitor (PVM-100), a Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP), a Fog Monitor (FM-100), and a Present Weather Detector (PWD) were sampling on the roof of the station. Within a wind tunnel located underneath the roof, two Cloud Droplet Probes (CDPs) and a modified FSSP (SPP-100) were operating. The main objectives of this paper are (1) to study the effects of wind direction and speed on ground-based cloud observations, (2) to quantify the cloud parameters discrepancies observed by the different instruments, and (3) to develop methods to improve the quantification of the measurements. The results revealed that all instruments showed a good agreement in their sizing abilities, both in terms of amplitude and variability. However, some of them, especially the FM-100, the FSSP and the SPP, displayed large discrepancies in their capability to assess the magnitude of the total number concentration of the cloud droplets. As a result, the total liquid water content can differ by up to a factor of 5 between the probes. The use of a standardization procedure, based on data of integrating probes (PVM-100 or visibilimeter) and extinction coefficient comparison substantially enhanced the instrumental agreement. During this experiment, the total concentration agreed in variations with the visibilimeter, except for the FSSP, so a corrective factor can be applied and it ranges from 0.44 to 2.2. This intercomparison study highlights the necessity to have an instrument which provides a bulk measurement of cloud microphysical or optical properties during cloud ground-based campaigns. Moreover, the FM and FSSP orientation was modified with an angle ranging from 30 to 90° angle with wind speeds from 3 to 7 m s−1. The results show that the induced number concentration loss is between 29 and 98 % for the FSSP and between 15 and 68 % for the FM-100. In particular, FSSP experiments showed strong discrepancies when the wind speed was lower than 3 m s−1 and/or when the angle between the wind direction and the orientation of the instruments is greater than 30°. An inadequate orientation of the FSSP towards the wind direction leads to an underestimation of the measured effective diameter.
Estimating waist circumference from BMI in South African children

0.001); 9-year-old girls: waist = 26.24 + 1.73 BMI (r = 0.95, p < 0.001); 10-year-old boys: waist = 19.64 + 2.21 BMI (r = 0.90, p < 0.001); 10-year-old girls: waist = 18.36 + 2.13 BMI (r = 0.81, p < 0.001); 11-year-old boys: waist = 25.88 + 1.89 BMI (r = 0.78, p < 0.001); 11-year-old girls: waist = 23.08 + 1.97 BMI (r = 0.94, p < 0.001); 12-year-old boys: waist = 27.50 + 1.80 BMI (r = 0.72, p < 0.001); 12-year-old girls: waist = 26.26 + 1.92 BMI (r = 0.91, p < 0.001); 13-year-old boys: waist = 25.46 + 2.05 BMI (r = 0.91, p < 0.001); 13-year-old girls: waist = 24.59 + 1.96 BMI (r = 0.84, p < 0.001)]. The result indicates the possibility of estimating WC from stature and body mass, at least among South Africa children. WC could be used as an alternative way of screening childhood metabolic syndrome or obesity in which waist circumference is essential.
A brief introduction to the noncommutative geometry description of particle physics standard model

Notes from a course given at Oujda university, Morocco, october 2002 - march 2003 within the support of a fellowship from the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie. These notes present a brief introduction to Connes' non commutative geometry description of the standard model of particle physics. The notion of distance is emphasized, especially the possible interpretation of the Higgs field as the component of a discrete internal dimension. These notes are in french and are taken from the author's phD thesis.
Chaos , Solitons & Fractals Nonlinear Science , and Nonequilibrium and Complex Phenomena

Please cite this article in press as: Hütt M-T et (2012), doi:10.1016/j.chaos. 2011.12. 011 How signals propagate through a network as a function of the network architecture and under the influence of noise is a fundamental question in a broad range of areas dealing with signal processing from neuroscience to electrical engineering and communication technology. Here we use numerical simulations and a mean-field approach to analyze a minimal dynamic model for signal propagation. By labeling and tracking the excitations propagating from a single input node to remote output nodes in random networks, we show that noise (provided by spontaneous node excitations) can lead to an enhanced signal propagation, with a peak in the signal-to-noise ratio at intermediate noise intensities. This network analog of stochastic resonance is not captured by a mean-field description that incorporates topology only on the level of the average degree, indicating that the detailed network topology plays a significant role in signal propagation. 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Physician Competition and Quality of Care : Empirical Evidence from Medicare ’ s Physician Quality Reporting System

Using data on physician treatment quality from Medicare’s Physician Compare Quality Reporting System, this study explores the effects of physician practice competition on five distinct quality metrics directly tied to screening and follow-up care. Controlling for physician and practice attributes, it finds strong evidence that physicians in moderately and highly concentrated physician service markets have lower quality ratings than those in unconcentrated markets. Exploring differentiated effects across primary care and specialist providers, the results are predominately driven by primary care physicians. JEL Classification I11, L11 *Department of Finance and Economics, Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8152, Statesboro, GA 30458, cbrunt@georgiasouthern.edu †Department of Economics, University of Mississippi, 229 North Hall, University, MS 38677, jrhendr1@olemiss.edu ‡Department of Economics, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, jbowblis@miamiOH.edu
Assessing local community participation in communitybased tourism: The case of the Zulu-Mpophomeni Tourism Experience.

Examining control of community-based tourism projects by local communities can provide a better understanding of how tourism can be beneficial to them. Tosun’s (2000) limitations to community participation has been adopted for the purposes of the study to establish the possible barriers to local community participation in the Zulu-Mpophomeni Tourism Experience (ZMTE). The primary aim of the study is to assess the extent to which the local community of Mpophomeni participates and is involved in the ZMTE. The ZMTE is a CBT initiative that aims to provide visitors with a collective experience incorporating the elements of culture and history. This CBT initiative is made up of various service providers including cultural and township tours, accommodation establishments, arts and crafts which are all locally owned. The inception of ZMTE was influenced by the growth and demand for authentic cultural and township experience by international markets as well as the immediate need to improve the livelihood of the local community. Barriers that hinder active and extensive local participation will be identified as guided by Tosun’s (2000) components, that is, operational limitations, structural limitations and cultural limitations. The growth of tourism activity may cause a number of positive and negative consequences to the area of Mpophomeni and its residents, mainly because the local community is part of the tourism product. The ZMTE is selected as a momentous study area due to its potential for development and has spawned increased interest from various stakeholders within the tourism industry. Its inception has largely improved tourism in the area of Mpophomeni and the province of KwaZuluNatal in particular. It is anticipated that the study will contribute to further encourage community-based tourism at Mpophomeni to ensure sustainable development and improved wellbeing of the local community.
When nouns need co-arguments A case study of semantically unsaturated nouns Kow

Pairs (H; I), where H = h1, . , hn, are automatically generated from such pairs (hmax; I). We refer to H as the “hypernym path” for I,4) and to units like h1, h2, . , hn as the “path elements” of H. A hypernym path may contain: (i) bare nouns (e.g., singer), (ii) modified nouns (e.g., famous British rock singer, former member), or (iii) noun phrases. Such a path is constructed by automatically removing modifiers from hn one by one. This operation is not error-free. Manual cleaning was performed to discard unacceptable units like for-
THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGICAL AND NON- TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS ON FIRM GROWTH

This study investigates the relationship between innovations and firm growth, based on the data of Finnish firms operating in the software industry. We find that in terms of turnover and employment, firms with only technological innovations do not grow more rapidly than other firms. However, firm growth is positively associated with the combination of technological and non-technological innovations.
Meiofauna Spatial-Temporal Distribution in a Subtropical Estuary of Southern Coast Brazil

The meiofauna spatial-temporal distribution of the Tramandaí-Armazém estuary, RS, Brazil was investigated during two periods: winter 1999 and summer 2000. During the winter, six habitat units were sampled. Two of them situated in theArmazém lagoon (called units 1 and 2), one in an access channel to theAtlantic Ocean (3) and the other three in the Tramandaí lagoon (units 4, 5 and 6). During the summer, besides the aforementioned units, an area of the Armazém lagoon with occurrence of was also considered (called unit R). Nine samples were collected in each habitat unit using a 2.7 cm inner diameter corer. Environmental factors were measured in the field. The meiofauna dominant group was Nematoda, followed by Copepoda and other groups. Densities ranged from 49 ind.10 cm in unit 5 (Tramandaí lagoon) to 3117 ind.10 cm in unit 1 (Armazém). The highest densities, in both summer and winter were registered in the units sampled in the Armazém lagoon. The multidimensional scaling analysis applied to winter meiofauna samples pointed to the formation of three different groups comprising Armazém lagoon, Tramandaí lagoon and access channel samples, respectively. In the summer this separation was not so clear. The results lead to the conclusion that the main factors structuring spatial-temporal distribution of meiofauna in the Tramandaí-Armazém estuary were salinity and sediment granulometric characteristics, with variations induced by the hydrodynamics. Ruppia maritima
Lung cancer in young adults aged 35 years or younger: A full-scale analysis and review

Objectives: Lung cancer in young adults is a distinct disease with particular socioeconomic implications. This study aimed to clarify the clinicopathological characteristics, best interventions, and outcomes of this distinctive entity. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with lung cancer was performed in our institute from January 2010 to June 2017. Young adults were defined as between 18 and 35 years old. Demographic, clinicopathological, therapeutic, and prognostic data were systematically analyzed. Results: From a total of 8734 patients, 120 (1.37%) were young adults, of which 82 with complete hospital records were included in this study. A high proportion had adenocarcinoma (45%) and late-stage disease (49.21% stage IV at diagnosis). Pleura (38.71%) were the most common metastatic site, followed by bone (35.48%) and lung (25.81%). The majority (68%) had single organ metastasis. Young patients had an increased frequency of gene mutations. Among the 18 patients for whom epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) status was determined, 10 had sensitive EGFR mutations while 5 had ALK rearrangement; only 3 patients were driver gene mutation-negative. The 1-year overall survival (OS) rate was 62.31% and the 3- and 5-year survival rates were both 53.31%; median OS was not achieved (range, 3-86 months). Male sex, negative or unknown gene mutation status, stage IV, and squamous or small cell lung cancer were associated with poor prognosis (OS) in early-onset lung cancer. Conclusions: Lung cancer in young adults is distinctive, with adenocarcinoma and stage IV at presentation being predominant characteristics. Gene mutation assessment should be mandatory in this subgroup due to the increased likelihood of positive driver gene alterations, as individualized targeted therapy may achieve superior outcomes.
Finite Element Models of Elastic Volcano Deformation

The migration of magma within a volcano produces a deformation signature at the Earth’s surface. Inverse models of geodetic data estimate parameters that characterize the magma migration. These characterizations are tied to the specific model that relates migration to the observed deformation. A model is a simplified representation of a natural system. A modeler is tasked with the challenge of designing a model that represents the system, in the context of the available data and purpose of the model. This chapter presents a systematic approach to quantitatively simulate geodetic data with finite element models (FEMs) in the framework of a deformation modeling protocol. This chapter will (1) address the design and execution of FEMs that can account for the geophysical complexity of a volcano deformational system and (2) define techniques for including FEMs in both linear and nonlinear inverse methods to characterize a magmatic system based on observed geodetic data. With these techniques, researchers can estimate magmatic migration within active volcanoes and understand how uncertainties in the data propagate into predictions. These estimates comprise some measure of central tendency, a sense of uncertainty, and a quantification of biases.
Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of digital bitewing radiography in assessing alveolar bone level in comparison with transgingival probing Dr .

Background and objective: Alveolar bone loss is a cardinal sign of periodontitis. Interproximal (bitewing) images more accurately record the crest of the interradicular alveolar bone because the beam is oriented at right angles to the long axis of the teeth, thus providing an accurate view of the relationship of the height of the alveolar bone through comparison with the adjacent teeth, however they tend to underestimate bone loss. It has been shown that the bone probing measurements is closely correlated with the actual bone level measured surgically and is the most reliable method for assessing bone levels before and after any surgical procedures. Hence the purpose of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of digital bitewing radiographs in assessing alveolar bone level in comparison with transgingival probing. Materials and methods: Sixty two subjects (age range 18-70 years, 34 males and 28 females) with chronic periodontitis were included. Radiographically alveolar bone level was measured by a single trained examiner using digital bitewing radiographs. Intraobserver correlation was done by intraclass correlation for radiographic data to avoid bias. Clinically transgingival probing was performed by a single trained examiner with stent in place using UNC 15 probe. The examiner was blinded to radiographic values to avoid bias. Results were statistically analyzed by paired sample t test, pearson’s correlation, intraclass correlation and regression methods. Results: Intraclass correlation showed good reliability for radiographic measurements. Radiographic measurements showed consistently lower values compared to transgingival probing with an average underestimation of bone loss by 1.77 + 0.44 mm. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed statistically significant correlation (r =0.960) between the two methods. As, there was a significant correlation between the two methods, a correction factor could be applied to estimate “Transgingival probing measurement” based on radiographic values with derived formula y=0.9668x+2.088 where y=Transgingival probing measurement, x= Radiographic measurement. Conclusion: Radiographic measurements overestimated alveolar bone level ie, underestimated bone loss. However as there was a correlation between two methods, a correction factor could be applied to estimate transgingival probing values based on radiographic values.
Searching and reproductive behaviour of female aphidophagous ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): a review

In searching both for food to produce eggs and for suitable oviposition sites, females of aphidophagous ladybirds must be adapted to exploit prey that vary greatly in their occurrence and abundance over both space and time. A simple model of ladybird searching and oviposition behaviour emerged in the 1950s: adult ladybirds are highly mobile in traversing the landscape, but become less active and produce more eggs as their rate of aphid consumption increases. The net result is that most eggs tend to be laid at sites of high aphid density. Laboratory and field experiments and observations over the past several decades have generally supported this basic model, although the linkage between ladybird dispersal activity and local aphid density often appears to be relatively weak. Not all ladybird eggs are laid in patches of high aphid density. Females use resources from limited prey consumption to produce eggs in modest numbers. They may thus be prepared to lay some eggs quickly when they succeed in finding aphids in high numbers, but otherwise they may have little choice but to lay these eggs in suboptimal sites. Upon locating patches of high prey density, females are faced with the decision of how long to remain. The basic model raises the possibility that these females become passively trapped at such patches until local aphid density collapses. Recent studies, however, suggest that detection of oviposition-deterring pheromones may promote earlier departure from prey patches. Females may also have an innate tendency to disperse throughout their lives regardless of local conditions, as a bet-hedging strategy to spread their eggs widely over space. Additional studies are needed to evaluate further the degree to which females actively determine and vary the rhythms of dispersal and reproduction in response to the unpredictable and short-lived nature of populations of their aphid prey.
A model for adaptive reduced-dimensionality equalisation

We present a method for mapping between the input space of a parametric equaliser and a lower-dimensional representation, whilst preserving the effect’s dependency on the incoming audio signal. The model consists of a parameter weighting stage in which the parameters are scaled to spectral features of the audio signal, followed by a mapping process, in which the equaliser’s 13 inputs are converted to (x, y) coordinates. The model is trained with parameter space data representing two timbral adjectives (warm and bright), measured across a range of musical instrument samples, allowing users to impose a semantically-meaningful timbral modification using the lower-dimensional interface. We test 10 mapping techniques, comprising of dimensionality reduction and reconstruction methods, and show that a stacked autoencoder algorithm exhibits the lowest parameter reconstruction variance, thus providing an accurate map between the input and output space. We demonstrate that the model provides an intuitive method for controlling the audio effect’s parameter space, whilst accurately reconstructing the trajectories of each parameter and adapting to the incoming audio spectrum.
Balancing the potential and problems of digital methods through action research: methodological reflections

This paper reports on an action research project with public sector organizations in the UK which experimented with a range of digital methods (social media data mining, social network and issue network mapping and data visualization), in order to explore their potential usefulness for the public engagement activities of these organizations. We argue that there is a need for small-scale, qualitative studies of cultures of large-scale, quantitative data like ours, to open up spaces in which to reflect critically on the methods with which such data are produced. However, in this paper we highlight the difficulties we had enacting through action research a commitment to both the potential (which might be seen as the action part of action research) and the problems (which might be seen as the research part of action research) of digital methods. Following Hammersley [(2002). Action research: A contradiction in terms? Exeter: British Educational Research Association], we suggest that an equal balance between action and research may always be difficult to sustain, in both action research and the use of digital methods. Despite this, we argue that critical discussion of digital methods needs to extend beyond academic spaces – through this move, we suggest, we might open up a space in which to reflect on how these methods might be used for the public good.
The perceived impact of corporate Social Responsibility on Credit Rating

This paper looks at the importance of corporate social responsibility and what corporate social responsibilities have implications on the credit rating of a particular organization. The study will be focusing on what credit ratings are and what determines them. This will largely be studied in context to the Pakistani organization, both the national Pakistani companies and multinationals which are operating in Pakistan. Keywords– Credit Rating, Corporate Social Responsibility, Pakistan
The Influence of Trust and Commitment on Customer Relationship Management Performance in Mobile Phone Services

Customer relationship management performance (CRM) is to establish the relationship between customer and service providers. The tangible and intangible results of customer relationship management performance are repeat purchase, word of mouth, retention, brand loyalty and customer satisfaction. The increasing numbers of mobile phone users all over the world has influence the researchers to investigate the antecedent of Customer relationship management performance in this services industry. Field survey has been conducted whereby 1,000 set of questionnaires distributed to university student in Jordan. 850 questionnaires have returned, however, 488 were analyzed due to incomplete and missing data problem. Technology trust and commitment factors been tested as the main antecedent for customer relationship management performance, the result shown that both of them was positively significant towards customer relationship management performance. As a contribution this paper ends with discussion, conclusion and suggestion for the managers in improving their customer relationship management performance especially in mobile phone industry.