Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of the Conifer-Broadleaf Ratio in Mixed Forests Based on Time-Series Data

Most natural forests are mixed forests, a mixed broadleaf-conifer forest is essentially a heterogeneously mixed pixel in remote sensing images. Satellite missions rely on modeling to acquire regional or global vegetation parameter products. However, these retrieval models often assume homogeneous conditions at the pixel level, resulting in a decrease in the inversion accuracy, which is an issue for heterogeneous forests. Therefore, information on the canopy composition of a mixed forest is the basis for accurately retrieving vegetation parameters using remote sensing. Medium and high spatial resolution multispectral time-series data are important sources for canopy conifer-broadleaf ratio estimation because these data have a high frequency and wide coverage. This paper highlights a successful method for estimating the conifer-broadleaf ratio in a mixed forest with diverse tree species and complex canopy structures. Experiments were conducted in the Purple Mountain, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China, where we collected leaf area index (LAI) time-series and forest sample plot inventory data. Based on the Invertible Forest Reflectance Model (INFORM), we simulated the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time-series of different conifer-broadleaf ratios. A time-series similarity analysis was performed to determine the typical separable conifer-broadleaf ratios. Fifteen Gaofen-1 (GF-1) satellite images of 2015 were acquired. The conifer-broadleaf ratio estimation was based on the GF-1 NDVI time-series and semi-supervised k-means cluster method, which yielded a high overall accuracy of 83.75%. This study demonstrates the feasibility of accurately estimating separable conifer-broadleaf ratios using field measurement data and GF-1 time series in mixed broadleaf-conifer forests.
Estimation of FAO Blaney-Criddle b Factor by RBF Network

This technical note presents the application of a Radial Basis Function (RBF) network to estimate the FAO Blaney-Criddle b factor. Tabular b values are given in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Irrigation and Drainage Paper Number 24. The b values obtained by the RBF network are compared to the appropriate b values produced using regression equations. The RBF network predicted b values better than the regression equations. An example is given to illustrate the simplicity and accuracy of the RBF network for b factor estimation.
Experimental characterization of FSS for WLAN applications with low‐cost UWB elliptical microstrip monopole antennas

In this work, we propose an elliptical microstrip monopole antenna with ultrawideband (UWB) characteristics to be applied in low cost measurements of frequency selective surfaces (FSSs). The −10‐dB impedance bandwidth of the elliptical antenna is 1.0–13.5 GHz, which is about 172% broader. To demonstrate the antenna application in FSS measurements, we also propose a dual‐band band‐stop FSS with metallic patches based on teragon fractal geometry designed to reject wireless local area network signals. Theoretical analysis of the elliptical monopole and FSS is done using Ansoft HFSS and Ansoft DesignerTM commercial softwares, respectively. Prototypes of designed antenna and FSS were built and measured. Through the use of UWB monopole antennas, we obtained an excellent agreement between simulated and measured FSS transmission coefficients. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:1331–1333, 2014
Exploring selected factors that determine graduation times in an undergraduate programme

Introduction: Timely graduation is of colossal importance to students, universities, and other stakeholders. The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the time taken to graduate and to determine if pre-enrolment demographic and experiential characteristics of students are predictive of the aggregate grade point average. The secondary purpose of the study was to identify individual aspects between cohorts based on the time taken to complete the course. Method: The sample for this study included all students enrolled in the Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health) program at the Auckland University of Technology from 2008 to 2016. The desensitized data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Results: The mean grade point average in the first year was lowest in the cohort that took five years to complete and highest in the cohort that took three years to complete. Each year’s grade point average was positively correlated to the next year’s grade point average. The level of prior education and work experience were predictive of the aggregate grade point average in those completing in three years (P<0.05) but not in those completing in four years (P>0.05). Conclusion: Pre-enrollment factors, level of prior education and work experience were predictive of aggregate grade point average in the cohort completing in three years but not in the cohort completing in four years.
The Impact of Meaning in Life and Reasons for Living on Suicidal Behaviour in Young Adults: A Systematic Review

A systematic review is presented which aims to synthesise relevant literature focused on the influence of Meaning in Life (MiL) and Reasons for Living (RFL) on Suicidal Behaviour (SB) in young adults. Twelve papers of suitable quality were sourced through a rigorous search strategy and a narrative synthesis was performed. This revealed that RFL and MiL act as protective factors against SB in young adults. Additional findings revealed a cultural universality of the protective aspect of MiL/RFL on SB, as well as further insights into the sub-components of life meaning- Search for Meaning in Life and Presence of Meaning in Life. The associated risk factors of SB- Hopelessness, Life Regard and Mental Pain, are also discussed in relation to MiL and RFL. This study paves the way for further research on the same topic and draws attention to something that is frequently neglected in the psychiatric community- consideration of the transcendental aspects of human nature.
Current Status and Trends of Minimally Invasive Gastrectomy in Korea

Since its introduction in the early 1990s, laparoscopic gastrectomy has been widely accepted for the treatment of gastric cancer worldwide. In the last decade, the Korean Laparoendoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study group performed important clinical trials and exerted various efforts to enhance the quality of scientific knowledge and surgical techniques in the field of gastric cancer surgery. Laparoscopic gastrectomy has shifted to a new era in Korea due to recent advances and innovations in technology. Here, we discuss the recent updates of laparoscopic gastrectomy—namely, reduced-port, single-incision, robotic, image-guided, and oncometabolic surgery.
A theoretical framework for conserving cultural values ofheritage buildings in Malaysia from the perspective offacilities management

This thesis aims to develop a Theoretical Framework for Conserving Cultural Values of Heritage Buildings in Malaysia from the perspective of Facilities Management. It proposes the establishment of Cultural Values of Heritage Buildings (CVHB) and Facilities Management (FM) in sustaining the physical condition, authenticity, and integrity of heritage buildings in Malaysia. The linkages between CVHB and FM will help to produce guidelines for conserving CVHB from the FM perspective (CVHB-FM) at the initial phase of conservation in Malaysia. The thesis adapted the Critical Realist approach in understanding the world by distinguishing the reality from factual and empirical, and recognising the social structures in the phenomenon. The research process “onion” was adapted to achieve the goal of the thesis. A Case-Study was conducted based on Malacca’s World Heritage City. A single holistic embedded approach was employed from the three levels of conservation practitioners who were strategic, tactical, and operational. The Matrix Thematic mapped the main elements of the study (CVHB, FM, conservation practitioners, and conservation documents) in a robust manner. Expert Interviews and Document Reviews were the main tools used in gathering the data. The raw qualitative data was then analysed via Content Analysis and Template Analysis. This thesis identifies the CVHB as being social, economic, political, historic, aesthetical, scientific, age, and ecological. These were associated and epistemologically constructed with FM perspectives of people, place, process, and technology. The embedded levels of respondents from the conservation practitioners have explained and elaborated on the connotation between the characteristics of CVHB and FM in developing the theoretical framework of the research. The thesis also provided insights into how the perspective of FM was associated with CVHB criteria in conserving a heritage building in Malaysia.
Dynamic interrelationship between technology and architecture in tall buildings

The interrelationship between the technology and architecture of tall buildings is investigated from the emergence of tall buildings in the late 1 9 th century to the present. Through the historical research, a filtering concept is developed original technology and remedial technology through which one can clearly understand the interrelationship between the technological evolution and architectural esthetic and further stylistic transition of tall buildings. More desirable visions for the future can be constructed based on this concept. Contemporary design practice of tall buildings is reviewed, and design guidelines are provided for new design trends. Investigated in depth are the behavioral characteristics and design methodology for diagrid structures, which emerge as a new direction in the design of tall buildings with their powerful structural rationale and symbolic architectural expression. Moreover, new technologies for tall building structures and facades are developed for performance enhancement through design integration, and their architectural potentials are explored. Special emphasis is placed on the research on the structural dynamic motion control using double skin facades / distributed tuned mass dampers. Design integration among architecture-related disciplines is emphasized throughout the research process as a means to more effectively overcome or at least minimize contemporary technological limitations and to create architecture of higher quality. While each study makes its own contribution theoretically and in a particular design situation, from a wider viewpoint, the contribution of this thesis is to create more constructive relationships of architecture-related disciplines to produce better architecture through synergistic effects. Thesis Supervisor: John E. Fernandez Title: Associate Professor of Architecture Thesis Supervisor: Jerome J. Connor Title: Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
A Study of Lung Function Indices of Woodworkers at the Accra Timber Market in Ghana

Background: Industrial ambient air particulate matter inhaled in the workplace can be hazardous to health. This study was carried out in Ghana at the Accra Timber Market (a cluster of sawmills). The woodworkers are constantly exposed to high amount of visible ambient air particulate matter, but they work without any respiratory protective devices. Aim: The study examined the effect of wood dust on the lung function indices of sawmill workers and the correlation between years of sawmill work and lung function. Study Design: A cross-sectional epidemiological study. Method: A sample of woodworkers was selected by cluster and convenient sampling method from the Accra Timber Market. The control group consisted of staff and students from the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle Bu who had no history of wood dust exposure. Subjects’ lung function tests were performed using a spirometer and responses to a modified version of Medical and Research Council questionnaire were taken. The ambient air particulate matters were measured using a standard air sampler. Result: A total of 104 woodworkers and 104 control subjects were studied. The mean (SE) concentration of particulate matter monitored within the Accra Timber Market was 392.33 (124.02) µg/m3. The VC, FEV1, FEV1%, PEFR and FEF 25-75% were significantly reduced in the wood workers relative to the control group. The reduction of the lung function parameters in the wood workers was associated with increased odds ratios compared to control, as well as increased relative ratios within woodworkers’ group with regard to duration of exposure. There were more wood workers with one or more lung function parameters below normal values than the controls. High proportions of woodworkers showed presence of obstructive (37%) and restrictive (32%) ventilatory defect, against (22%) and (15%) respectively in the controls. The wood porters and machine operators showed high proportions of obstructive ventilatory defect whiles the carpenters showed a high proportion of restrictive ventilatory defects. Conclusion: Significantly high percentage of woodworkers had impaired respiratory function and this may be due to the high ambient air particulate matter and also to long unprotected exposure to wood dust.
Honey bees with a drinking problem: potential routes of Nosema ceranae spore transmission

Abstract Abstract Nosema apis and N. ceranae are the two causative agents of Nosema disease in adult honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Nosema apis has been a recognized parasite for over a century and its epizootiology is well known. In contrast, N. ceranae is an emerging parasite of honey bees, which is now globally prevalent and the dominant Nosema spp. in many parts of the world. Despite this, many gaps in our knowledge exist regarding this species. For example, we do not fully understand all of the routes of transmission of N. ceranae among bees, or how long this parasite is capable of surviving in honey bee colonies. Here we investigated the viability and infectivity of N. ceranae spores in water and 2 M sucrose over time after storage at 33, 20, −12 and −20°C. Spores in both 2 M sucrose and water maintained high viability, except in water at −20°C over the course of the 6-week experiment. Infectivity was variable for spores after storage at all four temperatures, but all were infective at the last time point. The results provide evidence for cold tolerance and suggest that both water and 2 M sucrose (fall bee feed) could act as routes of transmission for N. ceranae. This work also contains information that may help influence management recommendations for the parasite.
Estudos longitudinais e pesquisa na educação básica

Este artigo discute a adequacao e o potencial dos dados longitudinais para o desenvolvimento de pesquisas educacionais. Apresenta as principais caracteristicas tanto da avaliacao nacional em larga escala como de um estudo longitudinal, e analisa as duas metodologias de coleta de dados envolvidas nestas iniciativas. Partindo da constatacao de que comecam a se formar, no Brasil, bancos de dados coletados longitudinalmente, o artigo apresenta e comenta duas pesquisas que utilizam dados desta natureza, com a finalidade de elucidar sua importância, especialmente na geracao de evidencias para as politicas de melhoria da qualidade na educacao basica.
The Determinant Factor of the Principal Leadership Solutions in Facing the 21st-Century Learning

Principal leadership is very important in the education and learning efforts of the 21st-century. This study aims to find determinants of principal leadership solutions in dealing with 21st-century learning in Vocational High Schools (VHS). This research was conducted with a total sample of 64 respondents from the principals, the vice principal for field I-IV, the head of department, and staff. The data analysis used the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) method to test the validity of the constructs and to estimate the reliability of the data. Furthermore, the t-test, One Way Anova, and Games-Howell test were used to test the difference in the average rating based on the characteristics of the respondent's dimensions. The results of the EFA analysis show that seven sub-variables are consisting of 29 determinants of the principal's leadership solution which are identified at 74.266%. The results of the instrument reliability estimation have a reliable level. Based on the different tests using the t-test on the gender dimension and the One Way Anova test on the last position and education dimension, it was concluded that there was no significant difference in the assessment of respondents. The Games-Howell test post-hoc revealed that there were significant differences based on the 29-33 year age dimension and the 5-9-year-old teaching experience dimension.
Challenging the notion of a task-negative network: default mode network involvement under varying levels of cognitive effort

Everyday cognitive functioning is characterized by constant alternations between different modes of information processing, driven by fluctuations in environmental demands. At the neural level, this is realized through corresponding dynamic shifts in functional activation and network connectivity. A distinction is often made between the Default Mode Network (DMN) as a task-negative network that is upregulated in the absence of cognitive demands, and task-positive networks that are upregulated when cognitive demands such as attention and executive control are present. Such networks have been labelled the Extrinsic Mode Network (EMN). We investigated changes in brain activation and functional network connectivity during repeated alternations between levels of cognitive effort. Using fMRI and a block-design Stroop paradigm, participants switched back and forth between periods of no effort (resting), low effort (word reading, automatic processing) and high effort (color naming, cognitive control). Results showed expected EMN-activation for task versus rest, and likewise expected DMN-activation for rest versus task. The DMN was also more strongly activated during low effort contrasted with high effort, suggesting a gradual up- and down-regulation of the DMN, depending on the level of demand. The often reported “anti-correlation” between DMN and EMN was only present during periods of low effort, indicating intermittent contributions of both networks. These results challenge the traditional view of the DMN as solely a task-negative network. Instead, the present results suggest that both EMN and DMN may contribute to low-effort cognitive processing. In contrast, periods of resting and high effort are dominated by the DMN and EMN, respectively.
Word knowledge and lexical access in monolingual and bilingual migrant children: Impact of word properties

ABSTRACT Word knowledge and the speed of word processing in monolingual children and adults are influenced by word properties, such as the age of acquisition (AoA), imageability, and frequency. Understanding how different properties of words contribute to the ease of processing by bilingual children is a critical step for establishing models of childhood bilingualism. However, a joint impact of these properties has not been so far assessed in bilingual children. Here, we compared the impact of AoA, imageability, and frequency on accuracy and response times in picture naming and picture recognition tasks in monolingual and bilingual children. We used Cross-Linguistic Lexical Tasks to test 45 monolingual children (aged 4 to 7 years) and 45 migrant bilingual children in their L1 (Polish). Word AoA, imageability, and frequency independently affected the accuracy and response times in both picture naming and picture recognition tasks. Crucially, bilingual children were more sensitive to word characteristics than their monolingual peers: Bilingual children’s accuracy was particularly low for words of high AoA (in the picture recognition task) and for words of low frequency (in the picture naming task). Also, the increase in response times for low-imageable and low-frequent words was particularly salient in bilingual children. The results suggest a new area of interest for further studies: the question of whether bilinguals and monolinguals show different sensitivity to psycholinguistic factors, and if so, does that sensitivity change with age or language exposure?
Enhanced pulsed thermoacoustic imaging by noncoherent pulse compression

Microwave-induced thermoacoustic imaging (TAI) is a hybrid imaging technique that combines electromagnetic radiation and ultrasonic waves to achieve high imaging contrast and submillimeter spatial resolution. These characteristics make TAI a good candidate to detect material anomalies that change the material electric properties without a noticeable variation in material density. Conventional pulsed TAI systems work by sending a single short pulse to the imaged target and then detecting the generated pressure signal; therefore, a very high peak power microwave pulse or data averaging is needed to produce images with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In this paper, we propose to enhance the SNR of pulsed TAI systems by using non-coherent pulse compression. In this approach, a predefined pulse coded signal is used to illuminate the imaged sample and the received pressure signal is cross correlated with a template that is related to the power profile of the excitation signal. The proposed approach can be easily deployed to pulsed TAI systems without the need for major system modifications to the RF source because it only requires a timing circuit to control the triggering time of the RF pulses. In this paper, we demonstrate experimentally that the proposed approach highly improves the SNR of TAI signals and images and can be used to reduce the acquisition
SELECTING ROADWAY DESIGN TREATMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE BICYCLES

The manual is designed to assist transportation planners and engineers in selecting roadway design treatments to accommodate bicycles. This is the first attempt to provide comprehensive guidelines for this process. The recommendations are based on assumptions regarding policy goals and the types of bicyclists to be accommodated, the state of the practice, and professional judgement. More research, testing, and evaluation are needed to assess and refine these recommendations. A more detailed final report on this study is available. The manual is not intended to serve as a comprehensive guide to the design of bicycle facilities. The user is referred to the current edition of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Guide to the Development of Bicycle Facilities for detailed specifications. The manual describes the assumptions, principles, and approaches used to develop the recommendations; provides a model planning process for identifying a network of routes on which designated bicycle facilities should be provided to accommodate bicyclists of moderate ability (casual adult riders and children); and recommends design treatments and specifications for roadways to serve different types of bicyclists under various sets of traffic operational factors.