Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Water research in the Mediterranean: challenges and perspectives. The Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA)

This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness through the project SCARCE of Consolider-Ingenio 2010 program (CSD2009-00065) and the projects CARBONET (CGL2011-30474-C02-01), GEISTTAR (CTM 2011-27163), WATERFATE (CTM2012-38314-C02-01), (DEGRAPHARMAC-CTQ2010-21776-CO2-02), CDTI INNPRONTA ITACA project (IPT-2011102), MBRControl (CDTI - OHL MedioAmbiente INIMA SAU) andARCOS (CGL2012-33033). It also received funding from the European Community 7th Framework Programme under Grant Agreement No. 603629-ENV-2013-6.2. 1-GLOBAQUA, ECsafeSEAFOOD (FP7 KBBE 311820), ENDETECH (FP7-ENV-2011-Eco-innovation), and SEA-on-a-CHIP. Also, the Marie Curie Reintegration Grants (2010-RG-277050; FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG 303946) and the Marie Curie Initial Training Network SANITAS (ITN-289193). M. Pijuan also acknowledges the Ramon y Cajal research fellowship (RYC-2009-04959) provided by the Spanish Government.
Effects of selective logging on dynamics and composition of woody seedlings in a tropical secondary forest

This study was conducted in a logging road in a 28 years old secondary forest in theAtlantic lowlands of Costa Rica. We gathered information from three different microhabitats:track road, edge road and an adjacent logged forest. The main objective was to study thedynamics and composition of woody seedlings ³ 20 cm height and < 1 cm dbh. Sets of 5m2 quadrats were laid out at 15 meters intervals in the logging road (320 m long). Datawere collected at 12, 19 and 25 months after logging. The author registered density,species richness and diversity, height growth rate, recruitment and mortality. Seedlingsgrowing in the road quadrats had the highest density, growth rate and recruitment. Seedlingdensity in the logging track and edge road did not differ significantly. Mortality rate did notdiffer significantly among the three microhabitats. Species diversity, based on Shannon’sand Simpson’s index, was highest in the logged forest quadrats, but the road quadrats hadthe highest species density. The most abundant species in the track road were Vochysiaferruginea (Mart), Hampea appendiculata (Donn Sm) Standl, and Ossaea brenesii (Standl). V.ferruginea accounted for more than half of the density per plot. The microhabit conditionscreated by logging activities, especially in the track and edge road may have favored theestablishment of pioneer and other light -demanding species in these open areas regardingthe adjacent logged forest. Long-term studies should be conducted in logged secondaryforests of different ages to understand processes of forest recovery after anthropogenicdisturbance. Furthermore, the role of soil conditions and light availability in these processesneeds to be investigated in more detail.
Effects of Mica2-based discrete energy levels on the lifetime of cooperation neighbor sensor networks

Abstract:We investigated the impact of transmission power control using Mica2 mote discrete power levels on neighbor sensor network lifetime. We built a linear programming framework to qualify the cooperation of sensor networks using a discrete energy model in comparison to noncooperating networks. Our results showed that a wireless sensor neighbor network that uses a discrete radio model can be more energy efficient than a network that uses a nondiscrete energy model.
Forecasting inflation in an inflation targeting economy: structural versus nonstructural models

ABSTRACT We propose a comparison between atheoretical and theoretical models in forecasting the inflation rate for an inflation-targeting country such as South Africa. In a pseudo real-time environment, our results show that for shorter horizons, the atheoretical error correction models, with and without factors, perform better; while for longer horizons, theoretical (Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium-based) models outperform their competitors.
Sistema ASR basat en deep learning integrat en el servidor TextServer

En aquest treball es descriu la planificacio, disseny i implementacio d’un sistema ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition) com un servei del servidor TextServer. Es tracta d’un projecte orientat a desenvolupadors, per tal que aquests puguin incorporar molt facilment funcionalitats ASR dins de les seves propies aplicacions, servint-se del present treball. Per a aconseguir-ho, es fara una recerca sobre que son i com funcionen els sistemes de reconeixement de veu automatics, aixi com tambe es valoraran les diferents opcions de disseny i d’implementacio del projecte. Tambe s’hi inclou, en concret, un analisi sobre l’eina Kaldi, sobre la qual construirem el nostre sistema. Es realitzara una recerca sobre els recursos linguistics necessaris per a que un sistema d’aquest tipus funcioni. Tot seguit s’obtindran i s’integraran en el sistema, per a que sigui capac de descodificar els senyals auditius. Es fara una proposta de parametres i configuracio del sistema, que despres s’hi implementaran. Aquests tenen per finalitat permetre a l’usuari ajustar-se a cada cas d’us de l’aplicacio que s’estigui desenvolupant. A mes, s’avaluara el sistema obtingut, tant en rendiment com en qualitat del projecte en si. Es busca un sistema configurable, flexible, precis i eficac.
Video Copy Detection Utilizing Log-Polar Transformation

Video copy detection is the process of comparing and analyzing videos to extract a measure of their similarity in order to determine if they are copies, modified versions, or completely different videos. With video frame sizes increasing rapidly, it is important to allow for a data reduction process to take place in order to achieve fast video comparisons. Further, detecting video streaming and storage of legal and illegal video data necessitates the fast and efficient implementation of video copy detection algorithms. In this paper some commonly used algorithms for video copy detection are implemented with the Log-Polar transformation being used as a pre-processing step to reduce the frame size prior to signature calculation. Two global based algorithms were chosen to validate the use of Log-Polar as an acceptable data reduction stage. The results of this research demonstrate that the addition of this pre-processing step significantly reduces the computation time of the overall video copy detection process while not significantly affecting the detection accuracy of the algorithm used for the detection process.
AN OVERVIEW ON DOCKING STUDIES WITH ALDOSE REDUCTASE INHIBITORS

Molecular modeling methods have become integral part of drug discovery programs as they enable study of complex biological and chemical systems and hence design of lead molecules of therapeutic significance. Over the last few decades, it has been routinely and successfully applied in most pharmaceutical and biotech companies for a large number of applications. The activation of the key enzyme Aldose reductase in polyol pathway under hyperglycemic conditions is responsible for the development of late diabetic complications and it is an important drug target. This review provides an update on the docking strategies employed for screening various synthetic and natural aldose reductase inhibitors and provide an overview of the structural features involved in binding within the active site. The docking results reveal that several active constituents of medicinal plants exhibit remarkable aldose reductase activity and they may serve as lead for the development of novel ALRs of therapeutic significance. Keywords Aldose reductase, Polyol pathway, Inhibitors, Natural products, Docking studies, Review
BODY MASS INDEX ACCORDING TO INSULIN AND ORAL HYPOGLYCEMIC DRUG USAGE IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES.

Ammar Balkheyour 1 , Omar Ashour 1 , Shahad AbuAlhamael 2 , Shima Aziz 3 and Hassan Alsini 3 . 1. Teaching assistant and Senior Registrar in internal medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 2. Teaching assistant, Senior Registrar in internal medicine and Endocrine Fellow, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 3. Medical Resident, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Manuscript Info Abstract . Manuscript History
The effects of immersive multimedia learning with peer support on speaking skill among male and female students

This study investigated the effects of immersive multimedia language learning technique on performance in English in terms of oral production skills in reading and speaking that involved six measures, namely, pausing, phrasing, stress, intonation, rate, and integration without the mediation of the first language of the students amongst both males and females. A quasi-experimental design was employed for the study. Eighty first-year university students enrolled in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) course were selected for this study and the teaching treatment was followed for eight sessions with one session per week. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA. The findings showed that following the immersive multimedia learning, male students in the immersive multimedia group with peer support performed significantly better in four of the six measures of reading skills, namely, phrasing, stress, intonation, and integration as compared to their counterparts in the non-peer supported groups and there were no significant differences for pausing and rate. On the other hand, female students in the immersive multimedia learning with peer support group performed significantly better in all six measures of oral production for reading and speaking than their counterparts in the groups without peer support. These findings showed that the immersive multimedia technique with peer support reduced the use of code-switching strategies by the students and enabled them to develop oral production skills in English approaching the patterns of native speakers especially amongst the female students.
Pedestrian Exposure to Air Pollution in Cities: Modeling the Effect of Roadside Trees

The exposure of students to traffic-emitted carbon monoxide (CO) in their daily walk to school is evaluated, with a particular emphasis on the effect of trees and route choice. The study is focused on the city centre of Aveiro, in central Portugal. Time evolution of the georeferenced location of an individual is tracked with a GPS for different alternative walking routes to a school. Spatial distribution of CO concentration is simulated with a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. An exposure model is developed that associates the georeferenced location of the student with the computed air quality levels (at an average breathing height) for that specific grid cell. For each individual, the model calculates the instantaneous exposure at each time frame and the mean value for a given period. Results show a general benefit induced by the trees over the mean exposure of the student in each route. However, in the case of instantaneous exposure values, this is not consistent along the entire period. Also, the variability of the estimated exposure values indicates the potential error that can be committed when using a single value of air quality as a surrogate of air pollution exposure.
Improving tourism destination governance: a complexity science approach

Purpose – The growing interest in complexity science as a framework for understanding social and economic systems has had, in recent times, an influence on the study of tourism destinations. This paper aims to describe this approach and discuss its theoretical and methodological implications in terms of destination governance.Design/methodology/approach – Traditional research has adopted a reductionist approach to modelling tourist destinations: variables and relationships are embedded in simplified linear models that explain observed phenomena and allow implications for management or forecasting of future behaviours. In comparison, this paper adopts an adaptive management approach. Rather than imposing lines of action to force the evolutionary path of a system, the effect of different management actions are modelled, producing experimental results that provide information about the system that is being managed, and used to refine strategies and governance styles. Complex systems provide a theoretical fra.
A New Approach to Model Nonquasi-Static ( NQS ) Effects for MOSFETs — Part I : Large-Signal Analysis

This paper presents a new nonquasi-static (NQS) model for the MOSFET. The model is derived from physics and only relies on the very basic approximation needed for a charge-based model. To derive the model, a popular variational technique named Galerkin’s Method has been used. The model proves to be very accurate even for extremely fast changes in the bias voltages. Simulation results show a very good match even when the rise time of the applied signal is smaller than the transit time of the device.
0-0 Shear-banding instabilities

Gradient-banding and vorticity-banding instabilities, as well as a shear-induced instability due to shear-gradient induced mass transport will be discussed. Various scenarios that underly these instabilities are addressed and simple constitutive relations that allow for a (semi-) quantitative analysis are proposed. A relatively simple constitutive equation that has been proposed some time ago is reviewed, which captures a number of the experimentally observed gradient-banding phenomena. This constitutive equation is based on the usual formal expansion of the stress tensor with respect to gradients in the flow velocity, but now including the second order term. The second order term is necessary to describe the relatively large spatial gradients within the interface between the two bands. The resulting simple constitutive equation is shown to give rise to stationary gradient-banded states, where the shear rates within the bands are constant, it describes stress selection under controlled rate conditions and explains why banding can not occur under controlled stress conditions. The simple constitutive equation does not include coupling to concentration, which may give rise to banding also under controlled stress conditions. Two examples of mechanisms that lead to the strong shear thinning that is necessary for gradient banding are discussed: (i) transient forces due to entanglements in polymer systems, and (ii) critical slowing down. The latter mechanism is shown to be important for a worm-like micellar system. The mechanism that leads to vorticity banding is still under debate. Vorticity banding of fd-virus suspensions within the two-phase isotropic-nematic coexistence will be discussed. Experiments on the kinetics of banding and particle-tracking experiments lead to a recently proposed mechanism for the vorticity-banding instability, where the instability is identified as an elastic instability similar to the polymer-Weissenberg effect. The role of polymer chains in the classic Weissenberg effect is now played by inhomogeneities formed during the initial stages of phase separation. For other systems than fd-virus suspensions that exhibit vorticity banding, the inhomogeneities general have a different origin, like in weakly aggregated colloids and worm-like micellar systems where the inhomogeneities are the colloidal aggregates and the worms, respectively. An instability that has been discovered some time ago, which is an instability due to shear-gradient induced mass transport is also discussed. The coupling between shear-gradients and mass transport has been formally introduced through a shear-rate dependent chemical potential, of which the microscopic origin was not explained. It will be shown that the microscopic origin of this coupling is related to the shear-induced distortion of the pair-correlation function. Contrary to the stationary gradient-banded and vorticity-banded state, it is not yet known what the stationary state is when this shear-concentration-coupling instability occurs.
Heterogenous multiscale method for locally self-similar problems

We present a multiscale method for a class of problems that are locally self-similar in scales and hence do not have scale separation. Our method is based on the framework of the heterogeneous multiscale method (HMM). At each point where macroscale data is needed, we perform several small scale simulations using the microscale model, then using the results and local self- similarity to predict the needed data at the scale of interest. We illustrate this idea by computing the effective macroscale transport of a percolation network at the percolation threshold. 1. Introduction and HMM Upscaling In the last several years, there has been a tremendous growth of activity on developing multiscale methods in a number of application areas. For some reviews and perspectives, we refer to (4, 5, 8). The primary goal is to develop computational techniques that can extract accurately the macroscale behavior of the system under consideration, at a cost that is substantially less than the cost of solving the microscale problem. Obviously this can only be done if the problem under consideration has some special features that can be taken advantage of. Up to now, with the exception of renormalization group methods (1), all other existing multiscale techniques assume that there is scale separation in the problem, and this property is used in an essential way in order to design efficient multiscale methods (5, 8). While many problems, particularly problems with multi-physics, do have scale separation, there are other important problems with multiscales that do not have this property. The most well-known example is the fully developed turbulent flow whose active scales typically span continuously from the large energy pumping scale to the small energy dissipation scale, the ratio of these two scales was estimated by Kolomogorov to be of O(Re 3/4 )( 2, 6). HereRe is the Reynolds number of the flow which can easily reach 10 9 for atmospheric turbulence. In the absence of scale separation, we must seek other special features of these problems in order to develop efficient computational methods. The special feature that we will focus on in this paper is (statistical) self-similarity in scales, namely that the averaged properties of the system at different scales are related to each other by simple scaling factors. This feature is approximately satisfied by many important problems such as turbulent flows and sub-surface transport in the inertial range of scales. We will call these type D problems (for the definition of type A, type B and type C problems, see (3)). To develop an efficient computational technique, it is most convenient to use the framework of the heterogeneous multiscale method (HMM) (3). HMM has two main components: • Selecting the macroscale solver;
Natural Nutrient Sources in the Cache River Watershed, Arkansas

The growth of the hypoxic ‘dead zone’ in the Gulf of Mexico in recent years has placed increased focus on potential sources of nutrient pollution, with most of the focus being placed on watersheds where practices, including fertilizer application and land alterations combine to increase non-point source runoff. In this study, nutrient concentrations in surface waters of altered and unaltered areas of the Cache River Watershed, Arkansas, were compared to determine if agricultural land usage was responsible for the majority of nutrient inputs. Results suggest that for dissolved nitrites and orthophosphates, agricultural (altered) sites contribute significantly more than relatively unaltered sites but that for dissolved nitrates, unaltered sites have a large contribution to overall nitrate concentrations, particularly in late summer and fall months.
Accuracy of the Positioning Systems for the Tracking of Alzheimer's Patients - A Review

Robotic revolution made the position monitoring systems become more and more demanding in the industry. Knowing the position of an object will help for the better navigation as well as control of systems. This review is about the current position monitoring systems with an overlook of their applications in helping Alzheimer's patients. Here we have included the indoor and outdoor methods and the comparison between the common methods used in position monitoring systems. A list of various methods used for the position monitoring has been included in the conclusion section based on their accuracy and cost.
Influence of Two Ground-Based Skidding Systems on Soil Compaction Under Different Slope and Gradient Conditions

Abstract Forest soils are sensitive to compaction by forest machinery. Forest operations such as harvesting and skidding have a high potential for soil compaction. This study was carried out in the Hyrcanian hardwood forests of Iran to measure the changes in bulk density (ρb) in the top 10 cm of soil following machine and animal skidding. The density change or compaction was induced by (i) a rubber-tired skidder in three skid trails: flat skid trail (STF), skid trail with transversal slope (STTS), and skid trail with longitudinal gradient (STLG) and (ii) a mule in two animal trails: flat animal trail (ATF) and animal trail with transversal slope (ATTS). Soil cores were collected pre- and post-skidding at random locations along the upslope and downslope tracks of each skid trail to determine bulk density and moisture content of the soil. Average soil bulk density in the tracks of machine skid trails was significantly greater than the soil density outside the tracks, but the increase in bulk density was not significant on the animal trails. An increase in soil density was considered significant if p < 0.05. A highly significant increase in soil bulk density (p < 0.01) occurred with machine skidding after the first 12 skidding cycles on the STF before stabilizing. In comparison, on STLG and STTS the increase of bulk density was greatest after the first six skidding cycles. Additional cycles did not cause a significant increase in soil density. While the number of skidding cycles to reach the steady compaction state varied between flat trails and those with a slope, the severity of compaction was the same between them. Concentrating machine operations will minimize the areal extent of compaction and the use of mules could further reduce the impact of the extraction of short logs.
Business Intelligence Dashboard Implementation on a Travel Agency in Jakarta

Information is growing at an alarming rate. As the development of information, organizations need to manage them and make them can be processed are growing as well. So this makes the problem to get the right information at the right place for the right people. And this fact is important for the company to be successful. This is what causes the Business Intelligence (BI) in the preferences of today's technology. BI is a process from raw data to be read. BI solutions help transform raw data into actionable information that can help support business decision making. This can help companies develop new opportunities. By identifying new opportunities and implement effective strategies, it will result in a competitive market advantage and stable in the long term. In this study, analysis and visualization of large amounts of data from a travel agency in Jakarta to help make the right business decisions using BI tools.