This review considers the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to rainfall-runoff modelling and flood forecasting. This is an emerging field of research, character- ized by a wide variety of techniques, a diversity of geographical contexts, a general absence of intermodel comparisons, and inconsistent reporting of model skill. This article begins by outlining the basic principles of ANN modelling, common network architectures and training algorithms. The discussion then addresses related themes of the division and preprocessing of data for model calibration/validation; data standardization techniques; and methods of evaluating ANN model performance. A literature survey underlines the need for clear guidance in current modelling practice, as well as the comparison of ANN methods with more conven- tional statistical models. Accordingly, a template is proposed in order to assist the construction of future ANN rainfall-runoff models. Finally, it is suggested that research might focus on the extraction of hydrological 'rules' from ANN weights, and on the development of standard performance measures that penalize unnecessary model complexity.

Hydrological modelling using artificial neural networks

The impact of management on global warming potential (GWP), crop production, and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) in irrigated agriculture is not well documented. A no-till (NT) cropping systems study initiated in 1999 to evaluate soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential in irrigated agriculture was used in this study to make trace gas flux measurements for 3 yr to facilitate a complete greenhouse gas accounting of GWP and GHGI. Fluxes of CO2 ,C H4, and N2O were measured using static, vented chambers, one to three times per week, year round, from April 2002 through October 2004 within conventional-till continuous corn (CT-CC) and NT continuous corn (NT-CC) plots and in NT corn–soybean rotation (NT-CB) plots. Nitrogen fertilizer rates rangedfrom 0to224 kgN ha 21 . Methane fluxes were small and did not differ between tillage systems. Nitrous oxide fluxes increased linearly with increasing N fertilizer rate each year, but emissionrates variedwithyears. Carbondioxideeffluxwas higher in CT compared to NTin 2002 but was not different by tillage in 2003 or 2004. BasedonsoilrespirationandresidueCinputs,NTsoilswerenetsinksof GWP when adequate fertilizer was added to maintain crop production. The CT soils were smaller net sinks for GWP than NT soils. The determinant for the net GWP relationship was a balance between soil respiration and N2O emissions. Based on soil C sequestration, only NT soils were net sinks for GWP. Both estimates of GWP and GHGI indicate that when appropriate crop production levels are achieved, net CO2 emissions are reduced. The results suggest that economic viability and environmental conservation can be achieved by minimizing tillage and utilizing appropriate levels of fertilizer.

/pdf/net-global-warming-potential-and-greenhouse-gas-intensity-in-4av6u5c9op.pdf

Net Global Warming Potential and Greenhouse Gas Intensity in Irrigated Cropping Systems in Northeastern Colorado

Species-specific tuning increases robustness to sampling bias in models of species distributions: An implementation with Maxent

1. Much of the literature on the relationship between species richness or functional group richness and measures of ecosystem function focuses on a restricted set of ecosystem function measures and taxonomic groups. Few such studies have been carried out under realistic levels of diversity in the field, particularly in high diversity ecosystems such as tropical forests. 2. We used exclusion experiments to study the effects of dung beetle functional group richness and composition on two interlinked and functionally important ecological processes, dung removal and secondary seed dispersal, in evergreen tropical forest in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. 3. Overall, both dung and seed removal increased with dung beetle functional group richness. However, levels of ecosystem functioning were idiosyncratic depending on the identity of the functional groups present, indicating an important role for functional group composition. There was no evidence for interference or competition among functional groups. 4. We found strong evidence for overyielding and transgressive overyielding, suggesting complementarity or facilitation among functional groups. Not all mixtures showed transgressive overyielding, so that complementarity was restricted to particular functional group combinations. 5. Beetles in a single functional group (large nocturnal tunnellers) had a disproportionate influence on measures of ecosystem function: in their absence dung removal is reduced by approximately 75%. However, a full complement of functional groups is required to maximize ecosystem functioning. 6. This study highlights the importance of both functional group identity and species composition in determining the ecosystem consequences of extinctions or altered patterns in the relative abundance of species.

https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2007.01296.x

Experimental evidence for the effects of dung beetle functional group richness and composition on ecosystem function in a tropical forest.

This paper examines four key mechanisms of the seed size/number trade-off (SSNT) models to assess their relevance to a general understanding of plant community structure. Mechanism 1 is that large seeds have a greater probability of winning in competition against smaller seeds. I provide interspecific experimental evidence that there is a competitive hierarchy among seedlings based on seed size. Mechanism 2 is that a trade-off exists between the number and size of seeds produced for a given reproductive allocation. Negative correlations between seed size and number were found consistently across a range of species from a range of habitats, from published literature. Mechanism 3, that seedling-seedling competition is an important influence on species composition, was found to exist potentially in a range of environments, including annual-dominated, post-fire and gap-dynamic communities. However, there is little quantitative evidence available and this is likely to be a restrictive mechanism. Mechanism 4, that small seeds are superior colonists due to their greater number, was tested in a field experiment in a calcareous grassland community. No supporting evidence was found, suggesting that the SSNT is not an important determinant of structure in this community. Thus two of the four mechanisms can be considered to hold true generally, while the third mechanism may be valid in particular environments. The fourth mechanism did not apply in the community tested, but could be tested in a wider range of communities.

Does the seed size/number trade-off model determine plant community structure? An assessment of the model mechanisms and their generality

https://isiarticles.com/bundles/Article/pre/pdf/13932.pdf

The Value Relevance of International Financial Reporting Standards: Empirical Evidence in an Emerging Market

MINITAB Release 11 for Windows

Describes why data warehousing system is needed, how it is used and what lessons are learned... provides guidelines for setting up such a system ... Wal-Mart's compulsive obsession to improve, rethink and improve again led the way toward the direction of data warehousing model. It can be said that even today the forecasting process is generally fairly subjective, driven by intuition of so called "experts" who are company executives, sales force, and industry analysts whose prognostications have been far from satisfactory. As a result, companies can miss the boat on achieving profitability, reliability and a competitive vantage position in their industry. Wal-- Mart is a forerunner among retailers to recognize the value of investing in an information system to support their forecasting process. On account of their wise decisions, initiative and leadership in Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) has taken a "great leap forward." Business relationships based on CPFR lead to synergies. Buyers and sellers leverage each other's assets and knowledge to create a supply chain whose value is greater than the sum of the parts. A data warehouse plays a pivotal role in gaining this knowledge. It enables companies to collect data from many sources, perform analyses, and make informed decisions in real time. In this article, we will show how Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, achieved excellence in retailing by incorporating a data warehouse. By doing so, the company has achieved competitive advantages and accuracy in its forecasting operations in an unprecedented manner. Businesses aspiring to be successful can learn a lesson or two from the Wal-Mart Model. WAL-MART STORES In 1962, Sam Walton opened his first Wal-Mart store in Rogers, Arkansas. Today, Wal-Mart's retail reach is limitless and market penetration enviable. Wal-Mart has annual revenues of nearly $100 billion, and more than 2,900 stores and Sam's Clubs in the United States. Internationally, the store operates more than 720 units. Wal-Mart employs more than 815,000 people in the United States and 220,000 abroad. From the start, one of the goals of Wal-Mart was to be the best store in town and to continue to grow and be successful. To this extent, Sam Walton believed in managing the chain "one store, one day at a time." Soon, Wal-Mart became successful and continued to grow and started moving out of the Midwest to become a nationally recognized retailer. With the rapid growth it became more and more difficult for Wal-- Mart to meet satisfactorily the needs of increasingly divergent customers. What worked in one store didn't necessarily work in another store. Consequently, management started losing its ability to manage "one store, one day at a time." MANAGEMENT GROWTH DILEMMA Wal-Mart's initial systems were capable of reporting only averages and summaries of their operations. They did not support management's changing needs. Soon Wal-Mart realized that relying on averages was not prudent, as it was not a true representation of any specific store at any specific time and for any specific market basket in the chain. Management realized that their decisions had to be very specific to a store level in order to meet the needs of the customers who came to that store. This triggered the need to obtain detailed information at a store level. Senior executives turned to Information Technology and Data Warehousing to regain their capability of managing their stores "one day at time." According to Rick Dalzell, Vice President of Applications Development, the store took the approach of "...want to know everything that happened in the store." This according to him is in stark contrast to their competitors. As such, Wal-Mart searched for a strategic partner capable of meeting their standards and their plans for the future. They found their match with NCR. NCR's Teradata software, a data handling system, which is a core component used in the Wal-Mart's data warehouse, consists of 101 terabytes. …

Forecasting Using Data Warehousing Model: Wal-Mart's Experience

Clearly, stakeholders of all organizations are demanding ever-higher levels of accountability. Colleges and universities are urged to improve academic accountability by developing better outcome measures to assess their students' learning. At the same time, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) continue to refine the financial reporting models of these same colleges and universities to enhance accountability on the business side. With the issuance of the new GASB reporting model in June 1999, state and local government financial accountability has been enhanced. Opportunities and responsibilities for practicing accountability, or accountancy, in the government and not-for-profit areas have never been greater. Accountability in these areas is practiced by accountants employed by the various governmental and not-for-profit entities as well as by the many outside, independent auditors who review their processes and reports. A great number of these personnel have been educated as certified public accountants. Many commentators have long believed that these practicing accountants require more familiarity with governmental/not-for-profit accounting than had been recognized in the CPA exam's topical coverage. The Research Question The content and format of the May 1994, Uniform CPA exam was substantially changed from its previous version. The object of the research project reported here was to determine how this change in the CPA exam affected coverage of governmental/not-for-profit accounting topics and how the new exam relates to college and university curricula in these areas. A sample of schools who reported their CPA exam pass rates on the May exams of the years 1991 through 1996 was prepared. Exam results were available from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).1 The pass rate of a school is the percentage of first-time test takers without advanced degrees who pass a particular exam part. This sample of 108 schools from 40 states included the pass rates on the sections covering accounting knowledge before and after exam restructuring. The pass rates of a school were compared to the results of an analysis of the schools' accounting programs to determine whether that school required either a course in govemmental/not-for-profit accounting or a course in advanced accounting that included a module on governmental/not-for-prof it accounting. Are students from programs that include an instructional component on governmental/not-for-profit accounting more likely to pass the newly structured CPA examination than other students? We expected that students whose academic programs required some coverage of governmental/not-for-profit accounting would be better prepared for the new CPA exam. Specifically, we expected to find that a governmental/not-for-profit requirement in a school's accounting program would have no impact on pass rates under the old exam format. In contrast, we expected that such a requirement would affect a school's pass rates for accounting material under the new exam format. Changes to the CPA Exam in 1994 Recent changes to the exam started with new question formats in May 1992, and culminated in a shorter, restructured exam in May 1994? Recognition that many candidates may have only spotty preparation in the areas of governmental/not-for-profit accounting may possibly have had some influence on this ongoing redesign of the CPA exam. While the proportion of exam time devoted to accounting topics was reduced overall, relative emphasis on governmental/not-for-profit accounting was notably expanded.3 The exam restructuring process continues today with consideration of possible computerization of the exam. The AICPA Board of Examiners is also considering reporting only pass/fail results to candidates rather than scores.4 The format changes that appeared in the May 1994, Uniform CPA exam were substantial. …

Does a Government/not-for-Profit Program Requirement Improve CPA Exam Pass Rates?

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