Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3 D TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING FOR FIELD CROP MODELLING

Terrestrial laser scanning provides highly accurate and dense 3D measurements of an object. This technology leads to several applications, for example in topographic surveys, forestry, and as-built documentation. Few developments exist in the area of agriculture and precision farming. In this contribution, multi-temporal 3D terrestrial laser scanning was applied for field crop modelling. The time-of-flight laser scanner Riegl LMS-Z420i was used three to five times per year to estimate plant height distribution of the field crops winter wheat, spring barley, and sugar beet. In 2008 and 2009, the area under investigation was a single field. As a further development, data from plots with different crop varieties of barley and sugar beet were analysed in 2010. As a result, within-field variability was detected by using crop surface models (CSM) and crop volume models (CVM). Single plants were successfully detected. The results will be compared with additional data in the future.
A Novel Approach to Clustering Activities within Sensor Smart Homes

- Activity clustering and recognition is an important research trend with smart home. Result clusters obtained from training processes are applied in recognizing, controlling as well as forecasting activities inside a sensor smart home. Activities differ from each other at typical characteristics such as sensor sets triggered or temporal ones. In this work, we present a smart home infrastructure and propose an unsupervised approach of clustering in-home activities based on temporal characteristics. Experimental results show that the new approach creates more flexible and accurate clustering results when compared to the smart home system named AALO reported in the literature e.g. Enamul Hoque et al. Moreover, in our work we prove that clustering results affect significantly the outcome of next-activity forecasting process via experimental comparison of results.
Effects of Culture on the Learning Styles of Secondary School Agriculture Students in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Culture strongly influences students’ learning styles. Understanding and appreciating the cultural differences of secondary school agriculture students in order to make the appropriate instructional decisions will enhance their learning. However little information is available whether there is any significant relationship between culture and learning styles of secondary school agriculture students. The aim of this study is to determine whether an individual learner's culture, affect his or her learning. This paper describes the use of Kolb’s learning style inventory (KLSI) and experiential learning theory to identify students’ learning styles in secondary school agriculture classroom. The Kolb Learning Style Inventory (KLSI) was administered to two hundred and ninety one form three agriculture students in Eldoret East sub county, Kenya. Survey research design was used. The author adopted the proportionate sampling technique. The Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the results indicated that agriculture students possess all the four learning styles; Accommodating, Assimilating, Converging and Diverging. The study contributes to best teaching practices by the teachers in the sense that understanding the students’ learning styles, is essential preparation for facilitating successful learning in secondary school agriculture classrooms, so as to adequately provide for learners' diversity.
Multisensor historical climatology of satellite‐derived global land surface moisture

global product and is consistent in its retrieval approach for the entire period of data record. The moisture retrievals are made with a radiative transfer-based land parameter retrieval model. The various sensors have different technical specifications, including primary wavelength, spatial resolution, and temporal frequency of coverage. These sensor specifications and their effect on the data retrievals are discussed. The model is described in detail, and the quality of the data with respect to the different sensors is discussed as well. Examples of the different sensor retrievals illustrating global patterns are presented. Additional validation studies were performed with large-scale observational soil moisture data sets and are also presented. The data will be made available for use by the general science community.
Improved resistance of neural networks to adversarial images through generative pre-training

We train a feed forward neural network with increased robustness against adversarial attacks compared to conventional training approaches. This is achieved using a novel pre-trained building block based on a mean field description of a Boltzmann machine. On the MNIST dataset the method achieves strong adversarial resistance without data augmentation or adversarial training. We show that the increased adversarial resistance is correlated with the generative performance of the underlying Boltzmann machine.
Assessment of inflammation and damage in rheumatoid arthritis patients with methotrexate inadequate response receiving tocilizumab using low field MRI.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to monitor joint inflammation and destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving tocilizumab therapy using MRI and compare MRI findings with clinical, biological and radiographic data. Methods: Inclusion criteria were patients aged between 18 and 65 years, fulfilling American College of Rheumatology 1987 criteria for RA. All patients had methotrexate inadequate response with no prior biologic exposure. All patients were evaluated clinically including disease activity score 28 (DAS28) and by low field dedicated MRI (dominant hand and wrist) at initiation of treatment with anti-IL 6 receptor antibody agents and after 6 months. The MRI images were scored using the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials RAMRI score (OMERACT RAMRIS). Results: Among 22 patients with RA included in the study; 19 were female. The mean age was 42years ±13.7. Tree patients were excluded from the study before 24 weeks because of serious side effects. The study population exhibited significant decreases in all measures of disease activity at 24 weeks. At 24 weeks, the median RAMRIS synovitis (p<0.0001) and bone edema (p=0.04) scores were significantly reduced while RAMRIS bone erosion score was unchanged. The baseline RAMRIS synovitis score was strongly correlated with delta RAMRIS edema at 24 weeks (r= - 0.46; p=0.04). Conclusion: This study suggests a significant reduction in MRI pre-erosive lesions (synovitis and osteitis) using Tocilizumab in patients with RA with inadequate response to DMARDS. Prospective studies with long term follow-up and imaging as an outcome measure are needed.
Long-term effects of the abandonment of grazing on steppe-like grasslands

ABSTRACT Question: What are the consequences of grazing abandonment on the Stipa lessingiana dominated steppe-like grasslands? What is the relative importance of management and environmental factors in causing variation in species composition and abundance in the continuously grazed and abandoned grassland stands? Location: Transylvanian Lowland, Romania. Methods: Repeated vegetation mapping of a grassland stand, where grazing was abandoned 35 years ago; re-sampling six grassland stands surveyed 29–57 years ago. For revealing long-term changes in species composition and rank abundance PCoA ordination was applied. The relative importance of management and environmental factors in structuring vegetation were explored by CCA ordination. Diversity, evenness and the relative number and abundance of red-listed species were compared between managed and abandoned stands. Results: Our results pointed out that grasslands which were formerly grazed and dominated by S. lessingiana, in the longterm absence of grazing, have been transformed into a S. pulcherrima dominated type. Management, probably by creating bare surfaces and preventing litter accumulation, had the strongest effect on the species composition and abundance in the grasslands. Abandoned grassland stands had lower diversity and evenness compared to continuously grazed stands. While at the same time, the relative number of threatened, rare species did not differ between managed and abandoned sites. Conclusion: Maintaining extensively grazed, as well as unmanaged, Stipa dominated grasslands would be important in order to create various habitat conditions for plant species, especially threatened and rare species, and promote diversity on the landscape scale. Nomenclature: Tutin et al. (1964–1980).
T regulatory and T helper 17 populations with transcription factors in pig tissues in response to chronic heat stress

Both Treg cells (CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+) and Th17 cells are pivotal in sustaining the immune balance in most experimental animal models. But this is not clear in heat stressed pigs. The present study was aimed at determining if T regulatory and T helper 17 populations along with transcription factors in animals such as pigs are affected by persistent heat stress. Changes in CD4 + CD25 + FOXP3 + Treg cells of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), thymus, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, and colon lamina propria of heat-stressed pigs over 9 days were studied. Transcription and the levels of Interleukin 17 (IL-17) protein along with specific transcription factors including retinoic acid receptor related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγT) and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) were also measured. Treg cell frequency increased in PBMC and spleen at days 1, 3 and 6, followed by a significant decrease on day 9 (p < 0.05). However, the Treg cell frequency in the thymus was seen to decrease at every measurement. (p < 0.05). A marked increase in plasma, spleen, and colon lamina propria IL-17 concentration was evident during early stages of the heat stress experiment. Transcription of RORγT and IL-17 but not FOXP3 was markedly upregulated in all the tissues examined. We concluded that heat stress affected the T regulatory and T helper 17 populations along with transcription factors in pig tissues, and that this is dependent on the duration of the thermal stress during chronic heat stress. © 2019 Friends Science Publishers
FREQUENCY OF JANUS ASSOCIATED KINASE 2 (JAK2) MUTATION IN PATIENTS OF BCR-ABL NEGATIVE MYELOPROLIFERATIVE NEOPLASMS

Objective: To determine the frequency of Janus associated kinase 2 mutation in the patients of BCR-ABL negative classical myeloproliferative neoplasms. Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study Essential thrombocythaemia (ET) and Idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) diagnosed by the conventional haematological criteria were included in the study. All patients were screened for G-T point mutation (V617F) in the JAK2 gene on chromosome 9 by an allele specific PCR. Results: Out of the 93 myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients, 33(35%) had polycythaemia vera, 36(39%) had essential thrombocythaemia and 24(26%) had idiopathic myelofibrosis. JAK2 mutation was seen in 64/93 (69%) patients including 33/33(100%) in PV, 19/36(52.6%) in ET and 12/24(50%) in IMF. Conclusion: Classical myeloproliferative neoplasms are an important group of heamatological disorder in our country. JAK2 gene mutation is seen in significant proportion of these disorders (69%). JAK2 mutation analysis can be used to differentiate between polycythemia vera and secondary polycythemia in most cases with near certainty, where it was found in 100% of the cases.
Influence of Type and Replacement Level of Recycled Aggregates on Concrete Properties

The study reports results of tests, using only natural aggregates, of a control concrete and nine recycled aggregate concretes. The recycled aggregates were classified according to measured specific gravity and water absorption into three different types, namely: RS II for recycled fine aggregate having 2.36 specific gravity and 5.4% water absorption; RG III for recycled coarse aggregate having a 2.4 specific gravity and 6.2% water absorption; and RG I for recycled coarse aggregate having a 2.53 specific gravity and 1.9% water absorption. Both recycled coarse and fine aggregate replacement levels in separate mixtures were 30, 50, and 100%. For fresh concrete, slump loss and bleeding amount with time were recorded. For hardened concrete, there was also measurement of unrestrained shrinkage strain, moduli of rupture and elasticity, and compressive and tensile strengths. Fresh and hardened concrete properties tested, together with a literature-reported comprehensive database, were evaluated with respect to relative aggregate water absorption combined with recycled aggregate quality and volume. Hardened concrete properties, in addition, with different recycled aggregate replacement levels and quality were compared with ACI 318-05 design equation and empirical equality for natural aggregate concrete proposed by Oluokun, whenever possible. That the properties of recycled aggregate-containing fresh and hardened concrete were dependent on the aggregate relative water absorption was clearly shown in test results. In addition, the moduli of recycled aggregate concrete rupture and elasticity was lower than ACI 318-05-specified design equation, when relative aggregate water absorption is respectively above 2.5% and 3.0%.
Stellar orbits and the survival of metallicity gradients in simulated dwarf galaxies

We present a detailed analysis of the formation, evolution and possible longevity of metallicity gradients in simulated dwarf galaxies. Specifically, we investigate the role of potentially orbit-changing processes such as radial stellar migration and dynamical heating in shaping or destroying these gradients. We also consider the influence of the star formation scheme, investigating both the low-density star formation threshold of 0.1 a.m.u. cm-3, which has been in general use in the field, and the much higher threshold of 100 cm-3, which, together with an extension of the cooling curves below 104 K and increase of the feedback efficiency, has been argued to represent a much more realistic description of star-forming regions. The N-body-SPH models that we use to self-consistently form and evolve dwarf galaxies in isolation show that, in the absence of significant angular momentum, metallicity gradients are gradually built up during the evolution of the dwarf galaxy, by ever more centrally concentrated star formation adding to the overall gradient. Once formed, they are robust and can easily survive in the absence of external disturbances, with their strength hardly declining over several Gyr, and they agree well with observed metallicity gradients of dwarf galaxies in the Local Group. The underlying orbital displacement of stars is quite limited in our models, being of the order of only fractions of the half-light radius over time-spans of 5-10 Gyr in all star formation schemes. This is contrary to the strong radial migration found in massive disc galaxies, which is caused by scattering of stars off the corotation resonance of large-scale spiral structures. In the dwarf regime, the stellar body only seems to undergo mild dynamical heating, due to the lack of long-lived spiral structures and/or discs. The density threshold, while having profound influences on the star formation mode of the models, has only an minor influence on the evolution of metallicity gradients. Increasing the threshold 1000-fold causes comparatively stronger dynamical heating of the stellar body due to the increased turbulent gas motions and the scattering of stars off dense gas clouds, but the effect remains very limited in absolute terms.
Large‐eddy simulation over heterogeneous terrain with remotely sensed land surface conditions

A framework is developed to explore the coupling between the land and the atmospheric boundary layer using three‐dimensional turbulence simulation over remotely sensed land surface images. The coupled set of equations is integrated with boundary conditions from day 221 of the Monsoon '90 experiment, and analysis is conducted to quantify the transmission of surface heterogeneity information into the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). The large‐eddy simulation (LES) model incorporates radiant energy availability; spatial fields of remotely observed surface cover, temperature, and moisture; and the ability to account for the separate contributions of soil and vegetation (i.e., two sources) to the mass and energy exchanges. This effort reflects a merging of active lines of research: the use of remotely sensed land surface properties to study water and energy fluxes and the use of LES to study impacts of surface variability on ABL processes. Analysis of the results reveals (1) that the combination of remotely sensed data and LES (in the absence of free parameters) yields regionally averaged land surface fluxes and ranges of spatial variability in the fluxes that compare well to similar measures from a network of flux measuring stations, (2) that the correlation between time‐averaged surface and air temperatures is dependent on the length scale of the surface features, (3) that the horizontal standard deviation of mean air temperature decreased logarithmically with height in the atmospheric surface layer; and (4) that the mean air temperature contains spatial variability induced preferentially from variations in surface temperature occurring at scales >500–1000 m. Hence the feedback strength between the land and the atmosphere is shown to be Scale‐dependent for the range of length scales (i.e., ≤O(10 km)) studied here.
Inducing Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the Rodent through Coronal Plane Angular Acceleration

This investigation used a new experimental model to apply pure coronal plane angular acceleration to a rodent, inducing concussion (mild traumatic brain injury). A mass was propelled down a drop tube toward the laterally extended moment arm of a rodent helmet fixture. Upon impact, the rodent helmet-head complex experienced mean angular acceleration of 368 krad/s2 (standard deviation = 30). All 26 specimens demonstrated a period of transient unconsciousness, mild ventriculomegaly, and absence of severe pathology. Injuries were classified as concussion based on scaled biomechanics, transient unconsciousness, macroscopic damage and minimal histological abnormalities. For the covering abstract see ITRD E141569.
Middle School Mathematics Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge Regarding Student Knowledge about Quadrilaterals

Abstract Pedagogical content knowledge is consisted of two components: student knowledge and teaching strategies. Student knowledge was defined to sub-categories as connecting prior knowledge to new knowledge, noticing students’ mistakes, identifying students’ difficulties of understanding. The aim of this study is to examine middle school mathematics teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge in terms of student knowledge regarding quadrilaterals. Interview method was used for data acquisition. 30 middle school mathematics teachers working at 12 different schools in Turkey participated in this study. The questions asked the teachers during interviews were prepared by researchers in accordance with student knowledge component of the pedagogical content knowledge. Content analysis was used to analyze the data acquired in this study. The study results show that teachers pointed out that they teach lessons taking into consideration their students’ previous knowledge and new knowledge they do by “reminding quadrilaterals students previously learnt” or “making association between similar quadrilaterals. Based on the data, the teachers pointed out the students’ mistakes about quadrilaterals were group under three headings. These are, mistakes regarding defining quadrilaterals, mistakes regarding visual property and, classification of quadrilaterals and family relation within quadrilaterals. The students’ difficulties inferred from teachers’ responses are summarized in two groups: difficulties identified related with trapezoid and difficulties identified related with other quadrilaterals. Key words: Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Student Knowledge, Quadrilaterals
The maximum voltage drop in an on-chip power distribution network: analysis of square, triangular and hexagonal power pad arrangements

A mathematical model of the voltage drop which arises in on-chip power distribution networks is used to compare the maximum voltage drop in the case of different geometric arrangements of the pads supplying power to the chip. These include the square or Manhattan power pad arrangement, which currently predominates, as well as equilateral triangular and hexagonal arrangements. In agreement with the findings in the literature and with physical and SPICE models, the equilateral triangular power pad arrangement is found to minimize the maximum voltage drop. This headline finding is a consequence of relatively simple formulas for the voltage drop, with explicit error bounds, which are established using complex analysis techniques, and elliptic functions in particular.
GROWTH AND PHOSPHORUS UPTAKE BY THE TOXIC DINOFLAGELLATE ALEXANDRIUM CATENELLA (DINOPHYCEAE) IN RESPONSE TO PHOSPHATE LIMITATION 1

Alexandrium catenella (Whedon et Kof.) Balech has exhibited seasonal recurrent blooms in the Thau lagoon (South of France) since first reported in 1995. Its appearance followed a strong decrease (90%) in phosphate (PO43−) concentrations in this environment over the 1970–1995 period. To determine if this dinoflagellate species has a competitive advantage in PO43−‐limited conditions in terms of nutrient acquisition, semicontinuous cultures were carried out to characterize phosphorus (P) uptake by A. catenella cells along a P‐limitation gradient using different dilution rates (DRs). Use of both inorganic and organic P was investigated from measurements of 33PO43− uptake and alkaline phosphatase activity (APA), respectively. P status was estimated from cellular P and carbon contents (QP and QC). Shifts in trends of QP/QC and QP per cell (QP·cell−1) along the DR gradient allowed the definition of successive P‐stress thresholds for A. catenella cells. The maximal uptake rate of 33PO43− increased strongly with the decrease in DR and the decrease in QP/QC, displaying physiological acclimations to PO43− limitation. Concerning maximal APA per cell, the observation of an all‐or‐nothing pattern along the dilution gradient suggests that synthesis of AP was induced and maximized at the cellular scale as soon as PO43− limitation set in. APA variations revealed that the synthesis of AP was repressed over a PO43− threshold between 0.4 and 1 μM. As lower PO43− concentrations are regularly observed during A. catenella blooms in Thau lagoon, a significant portion of P uptake by A. catenella cells in the field may come from organic compounds.
Antioxidant Properties, Secondary metabolites and Growth as affected by application of Putrescine and Moringa leaves extract on Jojoba plants

Article history: This work aimed to study the effect of putrescine at (50, 100 and 200 ppm ) as a chemical growth regulator , moringa leaves extract ( 3.5%, 7% and 10 %) as a natural extract and control (distilled water ) on growth, photosynthetic pigments, phytochemicals and antioxidant capacity of jojoba plants grown in earthenware pots. Application of MLE (10 %) caused an increase in plant height by 103.24%, meanwhile (7 %) of MLE led to 4.08% increment in the branches number as compared to control plants. Chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids recorded the highest concentrations by treating with MLE (10 %) followed by putrescine (50 ppm). Total phenolic, flavonoid , tannin content and antioxidant activity of jojoba plants significantly increased with putrescine treatment at 50 ppm and these increments were 28.98%, 31.33%, 74.82% and 65.44%, respectively as compared to control plants. Also, foliar spray of MLE (7 %) led to highest increment of total phenolic, flavonoid and tannins (41.67%, 85.13% and 80.50%, respectively). Moringa leaves extract had the superiority in increasing reducing power ability it increased gradually by increasing moringa leaves extract concentration. Some changes in amino acids concentration were observed with putrescine (50and200 ppm) as well as total essential amino acids.