Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Online tracking: questioning the power of informed consent

Purpose – The paper aims to report the main findings of a study for the Dutch Regulatory Authority for the Telecommunications sector OPTA to explore how the new European ‘‘cookie rules’’ in the ePrivacy Directive impact on behavioral advertising practices via the storing and reading of cookies. The paper identifies the main dilemmas with the implementation of the new European rules. The Dutch case provides a valuable reality check also outside The Netherlands. Even before the amendment of the directive, The Netherlands already had an opt-in system in place. From the Dutch experience important lessons can be learned also for other European countries. Design/methodology/approach – After a brief analysis of the legal situation in Europe and in The Netherlands (section 2), section 3 reports about the findings of a survey among the main providers of targeted advertising in The Netherlands to explore the current use of cookies and targeted advertising practices. Section 4 describes the findings of a qualitative survey among Dutch internet users with the goal to define their level of skills and knowledge, acceptance of and behavior towards the placing and reading of cookies. A concluding section (section 5) summarizes the main findings and identifies implications for the future policy debate. Findings – The results show that the majority of the surveyed parties involved in behavioral advertising do not inform users about the storing of cookies or the purposes of data processing of the subsequently obtained data, neither have they obtained users’ consent for the storage of cookies. The authors also found that the majority of users lack the skills and knowledge to handle cookies. Social implications – The findings critically question the wisdom of the ‘‘informed consent regime’’ that currently lies at the heart of Europe’s ePrivacy Directive. The paper concludes with reflections about the concrete policy implications of the study, and a number of concrete suggestions of how to approach the future debate with regard to the regulation of online tracking and cookies. Originality/value – The approach of the paper is original in that it combines legal analysis with two surveys: one among behavioral advertisers and one among online users. This approach permits us to better understand the efficacy of the new legal rules, to make predictions regarding the level of compliance with the new rules and identify areas in this highly topical debate that require further attention.
Integrating isolated and riparian wetland modules in the PHYSITEL/HYDROTEL modelling platform: model performance and diagnosis

Mathematical modelling is a well‐accepted framework to evaluate the effects of wetlands on stream flow and watershed hydrology in general. Although the integration of wetland modules into a distributed hydrological model represents a cost‐effective way to make this assessment, the added value brought by landscape‐specific modules to a model's ability to replicate basic hydrograph characteristics remains unclear. The objectives of this paper were the following: (i) to present the adaptation of PHYSITEL (a geographic information system) to parameterize isolated and riparian wetlands; (ii) to describe the integration of specific isolated wetland and riparian wetland modules into HYDROTEL, a distributed hydrological model; and (iii) to evaluate the performance of the updated modelling platform with respect to the capacity of replicating various hydrograph characteristics. To achieve this, two sets of simulations were performed (with and without wetland modules), and the added value was assessed at three river segments of the Becancour River watershed, Quebec, Canada, using six general goodness‐of‐fit indicators and 14 water flow criteria. A sensitivity analysis of the wetland module parameters was performed to characterize their impact on stream flows of the modelled watershed. Results of this study indicate the following: (i) integration of specific wetland modules can slightly increase the capacity of HYDROTEL to replicate basic hydrograph characteristics; and (ii) the updated modelling platform allows for the explicit assessment of the impact of wetlands (e.g. typology and location) on watershed hydrology. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Responding to HIV in Malawi : towards a continuum of care

Disclaimer/Complaints regulations If you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: http://uba.uva. nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible.
Mapping The Potential Of Photovoltaic Systems In Urban Areas Of Slovakia

Photovoltaic (PV) systems generating electricity from solar radiation are foreseen as a technology option significantly contributing to the sustainable energy supply. The action plan of the European Commission as outlined in the White Paper “Energy for the Future: Renewable Sources of Energy” can be greatly added by a map-based inventory of the most suitable areas for the installation of PV systems. The quantification of the solar energy resource and an assessment of a potential PV electricity production in the urbanised area of Slovakia is presented. The methodology is based on the use of a digital elevation model with grid resolution of 500 metres and the COIUNE land cover database within a GIS application, The spatial patterns of monthly and annual means of daily sums of global irradiation are calculated using the digital ele on model and climatic data. The potential PV production is calculated for the Slovak urbanised areas. The building-integrated horizontal panels and south-facing panels inclined at angles of 15, 25 and 40 degrees are considered, } ed on the technical capabilities of the current PV systems. The resulting map shows the most suitable urbanised areas, considering different array geometries of the gridconnected household installations, The calculation of PV production potential is a basic step for further analyses and forecasts of energy demand/supply taking into account other socio-economic data.
A geographical location aware energy efficient routing scheme for query based Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, a geographical location based routing scheme is proposed that works effectively for different hierarchical networks and thus supports an important aspect of network scalability. Further, herein a heuristic is proposed that minimizes the occurrence of hot spot to improve the overall life time of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). This utilizes residual energy estimation based on energy of each sensor node. Its implementation mainly comprises of the geographical location of each sensor in Binary Location Index (BLI) representation form, precise updates about the link with shortest path, and coverage of the each sensor; the method which is without change of cluster head is compared with the change of cluster head based on BLI for fixed single sink.
The Hadamard gate cannot be replaced by a resource state in universal quantum computation

We consider models of quantum computation that involve operations performed on some fixed resourceful quantum state. Examples that fit this paradigm include magic state injection and measurement-based approaches. We introduce a framework that incorporates both of these cases and focus on the role of coherence (or superposition) in this context, as exemplified through the Hadamard gate. We prove that given access to incoherent unitaries (those that are unable to generate superposition from computational basis states, e.g. CNOT, diagonal gates), classical control, computational basis measurements, and any resourceful ancillary state (of arbitrary dimension), it is not possible to implement any coherent unitary (e.g. Hadamard) exactly with non-zero probability. We also consider the approximate case by providing lower bounds for the induced trace distance between the above operations and $n$ Hadamard gates. To demonstrate the stability of this result, this is then extended to a similar no-go result for the case of using $k$ Hadamard gates to exactly implement $n>k$ Hadamard gates.
Is Ego Status All You Need for Open-Loop End-to-End Autonomous Driving?

End-to-end autonomous driving recently emerged as a promising research direction to target autonomy from a full-stack perspective. Along this line, many of the latest works follow an open-loop evaluation setting on nuScenes to study the planning behavior. In this paper, we delve deeper into the problem by conducting thorough analyses and demystifying more devils in the details. We initially observed that the nuScenes dataset, characterized by relatively simple driving scenarios, leads to an under-utilization of perception information in end-to-end models incorporating ego status, such as the ego vehicle's velocity. These models tend to rely predominantly on the ego vehicle's status for future path planning. Beyond the limitations of the dataset, we also note that current metrics do not comprehensively assess the planning quality, leading to potentially biased conclusions drawn from existing benchmarks. To address this issue, we introduce a new metric to evaluate whether the predicted trajectories adhere to the road. We further propose a simple baseline able to achieve competitive results without relying on perception annotations. Given the current limitations on the benchmark and metrics, we suggest the community reassess relevant prevailing research and be cautious whether the continued pursuit of state-of-the-art would yield convincing and universal conclusions. Code and models are available at \url{https://github.com/NVlabs/BEV-Planner}
Fault rocks and fault mechanisms

Physical factors likely to affect the genesis of the various fault rocks—frictional properties, temperature, effective stress normal to the fault and differential stress—are examined in relation to the energy budget of fault zones, the main velocity modes of faulting and the type of faulting, whether thrust, wrench, or normal. In a conceptual model of a major fault zone cutting crystalline quartzo-feldspathic crust, a zone of elastico-frictional (EF) behaviour generating random-fabric fault rocks (gouge—breccia—cataclasite series—pseudotachylyte) overlies a region where quasi-plastic (QP) processes of rock deformation operate in ductile shear zones with the production of mylonite series rocks possessing strong tectonite fabrics. In some cases, fault rocks developed by transient seismic faulting can be distinguished from those generated by slow aseismic shear. Random-fabric fault rocks may form as a result of seismic faulting within the ductile shear zones from time to time, but tend to be obliterated by continued shearing. Resistance to shear within the fault zone reaches a peak value (greatest for thrusts and least for normal faults) around the EF/QP transition level, which for normal geothermal gradients and an adequate supply of water, occurs at depths of 10–15 km.
Ethnopharmacology of Some Important Medicinal Plants of Nanda Devi National Park (NDNP) Uttarakhand, India

Ethnopharmacology deals with the applied aspects of plants and has been emerged as an important discipline of traditional botany with modern sciences. With the increasing demands of vegetational resources in developing world, it has been attracted much attention in recent past. The paper presents few of the important medicinal plants present in alpine and sub alpine regions of core and buffer zone of Nanda Devi National Park (NDNP), district Chamoli, Uttarakhand. Since inhabitants and tribal communities have strong faith and belief in Indigenous Health Care system, they have been interviewed along with herbal practitioners, priests and shepherds during the entire study. Establishing small scale industry on medicinal plants may be helpful in capacity building of unprivileged inhabitants of this remote region. (Nature and Science 2010;8(11):9-14). (ISSN: 1545-0740).
2016 Ieee International Conference on Big Data (big Data) Vht: Vertical Hoeffding Tree

—IoT big data requires new machine learning methods able to scale to large size of data arriving at high speed. Decision trees are popular machine learning models since they are very effective, yet easy to interpret and visualize. In the literature, we can find distributed algorithms for learning decision trees, and also streaming algorithms, but not algorithms that combine both features. In this paper we present the Vertical Hoeffding Tree (VHT), the first distributed streaming algorithm for learning decision trees. It features a novel way of distributing decision trees via vertical parallelism. The algorithm is implemented on top of Apache SAMOA, a platform for mining big data streams, and thus able to run on real-world clusters. Our experiments to study the accuracy and throughput of VHT prove its ability to scale while attaining superior performance compared to sequential decision trees.
Riesgo de caer en ancianos institucionalizados: un estudio descriptivo correlativo

Objective: To describe and analyze the association between institutionalization time in Long-Term Care Institutions for the Elderly (LTCI) and the balance and risk of falls of this population. Methods: This is a descriptive correlational study. The dependent variables will be measured through the use of scales of balance and stabilometry. The census consists of all population institutionalized at LTCIs in the city of Tres Rios (RJ), between September 2011 and March 2012. Data processing includes the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to verify the distribution. The data presented will be submitted to a Pearson correlation test and the analysis of variance for one factor, to allow comparisons between inter-groups and intra-subgroups. In the event that a Gaussian distribution is not presented, non-parametric tests will be used. The significance level used will be 5%. For statistical analysis BioEstat 5.0 software will be adopted. (AU) Objetivo: Describir y analizar las asociaciones del tiempo de institucionalizacion en Instituciones de Larga permanencia para Ancianos (ILPIs) sobre el equilibrio y el riesgo de caer de esa poblacion. Metodo: Estudio descriptivo correlativo. Las variables dependientes seran mensuradas por medio de escalas de equilibrio y por estabilometria. El censo sera constituido por toda la poblacion institucionalizada en los ILPIs del Municipio de Tres Rios (RJ), entre los meses de septiembre de 2011 y marzo de 2012. El tratamiento de los datos incluye el teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov para verificar la distribucion. A los datos que se presenten normalmente distribuidos se les sera realizado los testes de correlacion de Pearson y el analisis de variancia para un factor, para hacer una comparacion intergrupal e intra-subgrupal. Caso no presenten la distribucion gaussiana, seran empleados los respectivos testes no parametricos. El nivel de significancia empleado sera de 5%. Para el analisis estadistico sera adoptado el software BioEstat 5.0. (AU) Objetivo: Descrever e analisar as associacoes do tempo de institucionalizacao em Instituicoes de Longa Permanencia para Idosos (ILPIs) sobre o equilibrio e o risco de quedas nessa populacao. Metodo: Estudo descritivo correlacional. As variaveis dependentes serao mensuradas por meio de escalas de equilibrio e por estabilometria. O censo sera constituido por toda populacao institucionalizada em ILPIs no Municipio de Tres Rios (RJ), entre os meses de setembro de 2011 e marco de 2012. O tratamento dos dados inclui o teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov para verificar a distribuicao. Aos dados que se apresentem normalmente distribuidos serao realizados os testes de correlacao de Pearson e analise de variância para um fator, para fazer comparacao intergrupos e intra-subgrupos. Caso nao apresentem a distribuicao gausiana serao empregados os respectivos testes nao parametricos. O nivel de significância empregado sera de 5%. Para analise estatistica sera adotado o software BioEstat 5.0. (AU)
Ecological and evolutionary consequences of experimental and natural warming in the high Arctic tundra

ii Preface . iv Table of contents . v List of tables . x List of figures . xii Acknowledgements . xv Dedication . xvii Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 1.1 Brief overview . 1 1.1.1 Global environmental change . 1 1.1.1.1 Climate change in the Arctic . 1 1.1.2 Plasticity, adaptation, and migration . 2 1.2 Species’ responses to climate change . 3 1.2.1 Phenotypic changes . 3 1.2.1.1 Phenotypic changes: evolution or plasticity? 4 1.2.2 Evolutionary adaptation . 6 1.2.3 Range shifts . 7 1.2.4 Predicting responses . 10 1.2.5 Responses to climate change in Arctic plant species . 11 1.3 Research objectives . 13 1.3.1 Introduction to study system . 14 vi 1.3.1.1 Prior research in this system . 16 1.4 Significance of research . 17 Chapter 2: Contrasting effects of experimental and ambient warming on phenology over two decades in two Arctic tundra plant communities . 19 2.1 Synopsis . 19 2.2 Introduction . 20 2.3 Methods . 25 2.3.1 Study site and species . 25 2.3.2 Experimental design . 26 2.3.3 Statistical analyses . 29 2.4 Results . 31 2.5 Discussion . 38 2.6 Conclusions . 43 Chapter 3: Evolutionary and plastic responses of Arctic plants to experimental and natural environmental change in two contrasting habitats . 45 3.1 Synopsis . 45 3.2 Introduction . 46 3.2.1 Study system . 49 3.2.2 Hypotheses and predictions . 49 3.2.3 Maternal effects . 51 3.3 Methods . 51 3.3.1 Study site . 51 3.3.2 Warming experiment . 53 vii 3.3.3 Experimental design . 54 3.3.4 Statistical analyses . 57 3.4 Results . 58 3.4.1 Between-habitat transplant experiment . 59 3.4.2 Between-treatment transplant experiments . 63 3.5 Discussion . 66 3.5.1 Phenotypic responses to spatial environmental variation . 67 3.5.2 Phenotypic responses to experimental environmental change . 68 3.5.3 Implications for understanding responses to climate change . 71 Chapter 4: Climate adaptation is not enough: warming does not facilitate success of southern populations at northern latitudes in an Arctic tundra ecosystem . 74 4.1 Synopsis . 74 4.2 Introduction . 75 4.3 Methods . 77 4.3.1 Species and site characteristics . 77 4.3.2 Seed and ramet collection . 78 4.3.3 Source population site conditions . 79 4.3.4 Experimental design . 82 4.3.5 Phenology and performance measurements . 84 4.3. 6 Statistical analyses . 86 4.4 Results . 87 4.4.1 Mountain sorrel (Oxyria digyna) . 88 4.4.2 Rooted poppy (Papaver radicatum) . 91 viii 4.4.3 Wideleaf polargrass (Arctagrostis latifolia) . 93 4.4.4 Maximum size and seed weight . 94 4.5 Discussion . 95 4.5.1 Patterns in phenology and growth . 98 4.6 Conclusions . 101 Chapter 5: Conclusion . 102 5.1 Summary . 102 5.2 General conclusions . 104 5.3 Addressing the influence of maternal effects . 107 5.4 Measuring fitness in Arctic plants . 108 5.5 Future work . 109 5.5.1 Wh
Overcoming Critical Constraints to Sustaining Productivity Growth in Key Commodities of Asia and the Pacific

Two trends on yields have been observed for rice, wheat, and even edible oils in Asia. The deceleration of yield growth is one of these trends. The other relates to the differential yield increases across countries in the region. This study provides explanations for both trends and relates these to the exhaustion of the yield potential of current technology, emerging threats posed by climate change and other disturbances, varying levels of development across countries and hence the development of infrastructure, among others. Total factor productivity (TFP) estimates for these commodities indicate the potential to overcome these constraints, however. Key determinants of TFP growth were identified and discussed. While the influence of these determinants on the TFP estimates was not tested empirically in this study because of data limitations, evidence of the relationship was clear and strong in numerous TFP studies done for the agriculture sector as a whole, and for rice and wheat in various countries including Asian countries. Long-term growth will have to come from great advances in interventions being undertaken, three of which include (i) major breakthroughs in new varieties and farming systems in both fertile and unfertile lands; (ii) the restructuring of small farms into more efficient, mechanized large-scale operations, especially in production areas with good infrastructure for market access and irrigation; and (iii) the development of market mechanisms to enhance the comparative advantage of domestic production and explore the value-adding potential of commodities, particularly edible oil. Three policy recommendations are also forwarded to achieve these great advances: (i) sustained investment in agriculture; (ii) getting the mix of institutions right; and (iii) gearing up for globalization. The role of development partners as well as the private sector in effecting sustainable growth is briefly discussed as a concluding section.
Pengaruh Model Problem Based Learning Terhadap Penguasaan Konsep IPA dan Keterampilan Berpikir Kritis Siswa Kelas V MI Al-Islam Kota Bengkulu

This study aims to determine the influence of the problem-based leraning (PBL) model on mastery of science concepts and critical thinking skills of MI Al-Islam students in Bengkulu City. This research is a quantitative research. The method used is the quasy experiment. The design in this study is The Matching Only Prettest-Posttest Control Group Design. The population in this study was all class V students of MI Al-Islam Bengkulu City. The sample in this study was 27 VB class students as an experimental class and 32 VA class students as a control class. The instrument given in the form of a written test consists of variables mastery of science concepts and critical thinking skills. The results showed that there was a significant influence of the problem-based leraning model on the mastery of science concepts and critical thinking skills of grade V students of MI Al-Islam Bengkulu City.
Can night-time light images play a role in evaluating the Syrian Crisis?

This study investigates whether night-time light images acquired from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Operational Linescan System provide spatial and temporal insight with regard to the humanitarian aspects of the Syrian crisis. Evaluating the ongoing crisis in Syria is challenging since reliable witness reports are hard to gather in a war zone. Therefore satellite images, as one of the few sources of objective information, are potentially of great importance. We used 38 monthly Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Operational Linescan System composites covering the period between January 2008 and February 2014. The results indicate that night-time light and lit area in Syria declined by about 74% and 73%, respectively, between March 2011 and February 2014. In 12 of 14 provinces, night-time light declined by >60%. Damascus and Quneitra are the exceptions, with night-time light having declined only by about 35%. Notably, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) of each province shows a linear correlation with night-time light loss, with an R2 value of 0.52. Through clustering the time series images, we found that the international border of Syria represents a distinct boundary between regions of differing night-time light spatiotemporal patterns. The contrast across the border increases as the region studied encompasses a wider zone on either side of the border. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that night-time light can be a useful source for monitoring humanitarian crises such as that unfolding in Syria.