Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring Self-Supervised Pretraining Datasets for Complex Scene Understanding

: With the rapid advancements of deep learning research, there have been many milestones achieved in the field of computer vision. However, most of these advances are only applicable in cases where hand-annotated datasets are available. This is considered the current bottleneck of deep learning that self-supervised learning aims to overcome. The self-supervised framework consists of proxy and target tasks. The proxy task is a self-supervised task pretrained on unlabeled data, the weights of which are transferred to the target task. The prevalent paradigm in self-supervised research is to pretrain using ImageNet which is a single-object centric dataset. In this work, we investigate whether this is the best choice when the target task is multi-object centric. We pretrain “SimSiam” which is a non-contrastive self-supervised algorithm using two different pretraining datasets: ImageNet100 (single-object centric) and COCO (multi-object centric). The transfer performance of each pretrained model is evaluated on the target task of multi-label classification using PascalVOC. Furtherly, we evaluate the two pretrained models using CityScapes; an autonomous driving dataset in order to study the implications of the chosen pretraining datasets in different domains. Our results showed that the SimSiam model pretrained using COCO consistently outperformed the ImageNet100 pretrained model by ~+1 percent (57.4 vs 58.3 mAP for CityScapes). This is significant since COCO is smaller in size. We conclude that using multi-object centric datasets for pretraining self-supervised learning algorithms is more efficient in cases where the target task is multi-object centric and in complex scene understanding tasks such as autonomous driving applications.
Characteristics of mid‐level clouds over West Africa

Mid‐level clouds, located between 2 and 9 km height, are ubiquitous in the tropical belt. However, few studies have documented their characteristics and tried to identify the associated thermodynamic properties, particularly in West Africa. This region is characterized by a strong seasonality with precipitation occurring in the Sahel from June to September (monsoon season). This period also coincides with the annual maximum of the cloud cover. Here, we document the macro‐ and microphysical properties of mid‐level clouds, the environment in which such clouds occur, as well as their radiative properties across West Africa. To do so, we combined high‐resolution observations from two ground‐based sites (including lidar and cloud radar) in contrasted environments: one in the Sahel (Niamey, AMMA campaign, 2006) and the other in the Sahara (Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Fennec campaign, June 2011) along with the merged CloudSat‐CALIPSO satellite products. The results show that mid‐level clouds are found throughout the year with a predominance around the monsoon season early in the morning. They also are preferentially observed in the southern and western parts of West Africa. They are usually thin (most of them are less than 1000 m deep) and as observed in Niamey, mainly composed of liquid water. A clustering method applied to Niamey data allows us to distinguish three different types of cloud: one with low bases, one with high bases and another with large thicknesses. The two first cloud families are capped by an inversion. The last family is associated with a large vertical moisture transport and likely has the highest radiative effect at the Earth's surface among the three cloud types.
of the Thirty Third Spring Conference of the Union of Bulgarian Mathematicians Borovets , April 1 – 4 , 2004 STRONG REGULARITY OF PARAMETRIC INTERVAL MATRICES

We define strong regularity of a parametric interval matrix and give conditions that characterize it. The new conditions give a better estimation for regularity of a parametric matrix than the conditions used so far. Verifiable sufficient regularity conditions are also presented for parametric matrices. The new sufficient conditions motivate a generalization of Rump’s parametric fixed-point iteration method.
Review: Diversity, structure, and community composition of Bornean heath forest with a focus on Brunei Darussalam

Abstract. Ikbal IM, Din HHM, Tuah WH, Jaafar SM, Ahmad N, Sukri RS. 2023. Review: Diversity, structure, and community composition of Bornean heath forest with a focus on Brunei Darussalam. Biodiversitas 24: 2814-2829. Tropical heath forests, a unique lowland forest ecosystem with high conservation value, are increasingly threatened by disturbances. Heath forests are characterized by trees of short stature and the presence of highly acidic, sandy soils with poor nutrient content. Bornean heath forests are widely studied for their diversity, structure, and community composition and are known to support endemics of high conservation value. Environmental factors and soil properties, such as topography, water availability, and nutrient status, are known to influence tree species diversity and forest structure of Bornean forests. However, factors influencing their community composition, including the role of seedling communities in influencing heath forest communities, are still not well understood. In particular, studies of tree diversity and community composition of heath forests in Brunei Darussalam have revealed high endemism and the presence of species with high conservation value. Anthropogenic threats to Bornean heath forests highlight the urgent need for an increased understanding of these forests and prioritization of their conservation. Increased insights into the ecological preferences of heath forest species are crucial for the successful restoration of degraded heath forests. The intact forest ecosystems of Brunei could provide opportunities for further ecological research on the plant communities found in these unique forests.
Geometric nonlinear finite element and genetic algorithm based optimal vibration energy harvesting from nonprismatic axially functionally graded piezolaminated beam

The present article deals with optimal vibration energy harvesting from an axially functionally graded (FG) non-prismatic piezolaminated beam using genetic algorithm (GA). Geometric nonlinear based finite element (FE) formulation using Newmark method in conjunction with Newton-Raphson method is formulated to solve the obtained governing equation. A two noded beam element with two degrees of freedom (DOF) at each node is used in the present FE formulation. The FG material (i.e. non-homogeneity) in the axial direction is considered which varies (continuously decreasing from root to tip of such cantilever beam) using a proposed power law formula. The various cross section profiles (such as linear, parabolic and cubic) are modelled using the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. The effects of nonlinearity on the responses (such as displacement, voltage and output power) are deliberated with arbitrary power gradient index. The effects of tapers (both width and height in length directions) on the output power and voltage are analysed. A real-coded genetic algorithm based constrained optimization technique is also proposed to determine the best possible design variables for optimal power harvesting within the allowable limits of ultimate stress of beam and breakdown voltage of PZT sensor.
Scintillation Properties of Praseodymium Activated Single Crystals

Scintillation properties of LuAG:Pr grown by Fu- rukawa Co. Ltd., Japan, have been studied. The best crystals display light outputs up to 19000 ph/MeV and an energy resolu- tion of 4.6% at 662 keV. The scintillation yield is found to be a function of size and temperature of the sample; it can be enhanced by 40% upon heating to 450 K. Radioluminescence spectra show both - and - transitions of ions; the contribution of the latter increases with temperature. The scintillation decays are complex, with a fast decay constant of 20 ns. The presence of induces high background activity. regarded as an attractive material for a number of applications. In this paper we present a standard characterization and some results of more advanced, previously unreported studies on :Pr. Our research comprises temperature-depen- dent measurements of pulse height spectra, scintillation time profiles, and radioluminescence spectra between 78 and 600 K. We also investigate the proportionality and size dependence of scintillation yield, and the intrinsic activity of LuAG:Pr.
Analysis of the Factors that Affect the Implementation of E-Government in Indonesia

The research had purpose to investigated further related to the factors which affecting the implementation of e-Government (e-Gov) within the Ministry of Communication and Informatics of the Republic of Indonesia. This research was designed by the Quantitative-Descriptive method through a causality approach. The sample for this study amounted to 104 respondents who were randomly selected by a simple random sampling technique. The data analysis method used was PLS-SEM to test the research hypothesis. The results strongly suggested that information technology and human resource had significantly positive impact on the implementation of e-Gov, both partially and simultaneously. The findings of this research also demonstrate that the provision of applications related to the main duties and functions of employees is necessary. In addition, solving problems that occur at work also is the most essential thing that should be done in implementing e-Gov.
Finite time control of robotic manipulators with position output feedback

This paper deals with the robust finite time tracking of desired trajectories for a wide group of robotic manipulators in spite of unknown disturbances, uncertainties, and saturations of actuators while only manipulator's positions are available and its velocities are not measurable physically. A new form of chattering‐free second order fast nonsingular terminal sliding mode control scheme is introduced to design input torques for fulfilling the determined tracking objective in the adjustable total finite settling time. The proposed control algorithm is incorporated with two nonlinear observers to estimate disturbances and velocities of joints within finite settling times. The global finite time stability of the closed‐loop manipulator is analytically proved. Finally, a numerical simulation is carried out to verify the effectiveness of the designed input torques. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of Partial Replacement of Wheat Flour with Chickpea Flour on Physico-Chemical and Sensory Properties of Tea Buns

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to identify the optimum substitution ratio of chickpea flour (CF) into ordinary tea buns with intention to improve the nutritional value and the best sensory properties while retaining their shape. Flour blends were prepared in the proportions of wheat flour WF: CF (w/w %) 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, and 50:50 while WF (100:0) as a control. The rheological properties of blends were determined by Brabender farinograph apparatus. The prepared buns were evaluated for color, loaf specific volume, proximate composition, amino acid profile, and the preference towards sensory properties. According to the farinograph results, WF and 20% substitution were strong dough while 30%, 40%, and 50% substitutions were medium-strength doughs. In higher incorporation ratios, the moisture contents of the buns were decreased and the crumb texture gets harder and less porous making the product unacceptable. Buns made with 40% and 50% substitution failed to exceed the minimum requirement of specific loaf volume. The levels of protein in the buns are gradually elevated, making the product more nutritious with complementing amino acid profiles. Although the higher incorporation is more healthy and nutritious, only 20% and 30% CF incorporated buns seem to be practical in the manufacturing industry.
Career-Related Teacher Support in Turkey: Scale Adaptation and Validation

The aim of this study was to adapt the Career-related Teacher Support Scale to Turkish and to carry out validity and reliability studies. Data were collected from a total of 752 high school students studying in Turkey. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the scale had an excellent fit. Students’ perceptions of career-related teacher support were also examined in terms of demographic variables. The findings showed that female students perceived teacher support more. Also, students with a high socioeconomic level had a higher perception of support.
Comparative analysis of antioxidant potential in leaf, stem, and root of Paederia foetida L.

Paederia foetida L. is widely used for the treatment of myriad ailments. Thus, searching for plant parts having greater antioxidant potential would make it easy to get suitable materials for herbal drugs. The present effort was made to explore the antioxidant potentials in the plant parts of P. foetida grown under natural conditions by means of physiological and biochemical analyses. The young leaves showed the highest reservoir of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as chlorophylls (0.96 mg g-1), carotenoids (0.43 mg g-1), anthocyanins (53.99 µg g-1), phenolics (728.24 µg g-1), flavonoids (4178.05 µg g-1), and proline (1.46 µmol g-1) as compared to others. Total antioxidant activity was found to be the highest in young leaves (84.82 %) followed by young stems (80.24 %) and matured leaves (79.78 %). Analysis of enzymatic antioxidants resulted in the superior activity of ascorbate peroxidase (13.58 µmol min-1 mg-1) and glutathione S-transferase (3409 nmol min-1 mg-1) in young leaves whereas the highest rate of catalase (409.85 µmol min-1 mg-1) and peroxidase (3.5 nmol min-1 mg-1) activity were found in matured leaves. However, comparatively higher content of reactive oxygen species; hydrogen peroxide, and lipid peroxidation product; malondialdehyde in matured leaves than that of young leaves suggests that young leaf is a suitable source for herbal medicine.
Pole‐Seeking Brownian Motion and Bird Navigation

This paper is not concerned with identifying the mechanism of bird navigation, but rather with assessing the degree of success possible using very bad navigational aids of whatever sort. Flight-paths are simulated using virtually no hypotheses, and all numerical parameters are determined ornithologically. The results are compared with the performance of actual birds, and also with a brownian model which is analytically convenient. It turns out that some formulae for the brownian theory can be used to graduate the results obtained from actual or simulated observations, and this is its sole ornithological relevance. The data imply a surprising numerical coincidence which allows of a Darwinian explanation. It seems likely that under suitable asymptotic hypotheses, the ornitho logical model will converge weakly towards the brownian one, but that question is deliberately not investigated here. Indeed it is ornithologically of little interest because (i) we are certainly not at the limit and (ii) weak convergence theorems do not normally have anything useful to say about the rate of convergence. This suggests that there may be a general need for a shift of emphasis in our thinking, away from weak convergence theorems towards weak convergence approximations (validated by simulation).
Women in Selected Communities of Punjab, India Have a High Prevalence of Iron, Zinc, Vitamin B12, and Folate Deficiencies: Implications for a Multiply-Fortified Salt Intervention

Dietary intake and biomarkers of micronutrient status of 100 non-pregnant women of reproductive age (NPWRA) were assessed to determine optimal levels of iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and folic acid to include in multiply-fortified salt (MFS) that will be evaluated in an upcoming trial. Weighed food records were obtained from participants to measure intake of micronutrients and discretionary salt, and to assess adequacy using Indian Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs). Statistical modeling was used to determine optimal fortification levels to reduce inadequate micronutrient intake while limiting intake above the upper limit. Fasting blood samples were obtained to assess iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and folate status. In usual diets, inadequate intake of iron (46%), zinc (95%), vitamin B12 (83%), and folate (36%) was high. Mean intake of discretionary salt was 4.7 g/day. Prevalence estimates of anemia (37%), iron deficiency (67%), zinc deficiency (34%), vitamin B12 insufficiency (37%), and folate insufficiency (70%) were also high. Simulating the addition of optimized MFS to usual diets resulted in percentage point (pp) reductions in inadequate intake by 29 pp for iron, 76 pp for zinc, 81 pp for vitamin B12, and 36 pp for folate. MFS holds potential to reduce the burden of micronutrient deficiencies in this setting.
A Dusty Road for Astronauts

The lunar dust problem was first formulated in 1969 with NASA’s first successful mission to land a human being on the surface of the Moon. Subsequent Apollo missions failed to keep the dust at bay, so exposure to the dust was unavoidable. In 1972, Harrison Schmitt suffered a brief sneezing attack, red eyes, an itchy throat, and congested sinuses in response to lunar dust. Some additional Apollo astronauts also reported allergy-like symptoms after tracking dust into the lunar module. Immediately following the Apollo missions, research into the toxic effects of lunar dust on the respiratory system gained a lot of interest. Moreover, researchers believed other organ systems might be at risk, including the skin and cornea. Secondary effects could translocate to the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and the brain. With current intentions to return humans to the moon and establish a semi-permanent presence on or near the moon’s surface, integrated, end-to-end dust mitigation strategies are needed to enable sustainable lunar presence and architecture. The characteristics and formation of Martian dust are different from lunar dust, but advances in the research of lunar dust toxicity, mitigation, and protection strategies can prove strategic for future operations on Mars.
Diurnal Variation of TRMM/LIS Lightning Flash Radiances

AbstractThis study provides, for the first time, an analysis of the climatological diurnal variations in the lightning flash radiance data product e from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Lightning Imaging Sensor (TRMM/LIS). The e values over 13 years (2002–14), and over a global scale (∼38°S–38°N), reveal novel and remarkably consistent regional and seasonal patterns as a function of the local solar time (LST). In particular, the diurnal variation of e (over both continental and oceanic regions) is characterized by a monotonic increase from late afternoon (∼2000 LST), attaining a maximum around 0900 LST, followed by a decreasing trend. The continental (oceanic) e values reach a broader minimum spanning from ∼1500 to 1900 LST (∼1800 to 2000). The relative diurnal amplitude variation in continental e is about 45%, compared to about 15% for oceanic e. This study confirms that the results are not affected by diurnal biases associated with instrument detection or other statistical artifacts. Notable agr.
A Comparative Study of Intrathecal Fentanyl and Nalbuphine as an Adjuvant to Hyperbaric Bupivacaine for Spinal Anesthesia in Lower Limb Orthopedic Surgeries: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Study

Background: Spinal anaesthesia is the most commonly used technique for lower limb orthopaedic surgeries as it is economical and easy to administer. Opioids as adjuvants to local anaesthetics during spinal anaesthesia have played a vital role in reducing post-operative pain qualitatively and effectively. Methods: This prospective randomised study was conducted on 100 patients divided into two groups scheduled for lower limb orthopaedic surgeries. Group bupivacaine fentanyl (BF) received 25 mcg of fentanyl with 15 mg of bupivacaine and Group bupivacaine nalbuphine (BN) received 1 mg of nalbuphine and 15 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine. The aim of the study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of intrathecal fentanyl and nalbuphine as an adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia. Duration of effective analgesia, haemodynamic parameters, onset and duration of sensory and motor block, adverse effects, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score were assessed. Results: Duration of effective analgesia was 388±24.88 minutes in the BN group and was higher (p-value <0.001) in comparison to the BF group, which was 304.70±15.76 minutes. Conclusion: Nalbuphine was more effective than fentanyl in providing post-operative analgesia when used as an adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine.
Evaluation of quality attributes of chia (Salvia hispanica), moringa (Moringa oleifera) and flax (Linum usitatissimum) oils

Each year, the consumption of vegetable oils increases gradually. Around the world, there has been an increasing demand for oils from non-conventional sources to compliment the available ones. Some oils, such as chia, flax, and moringa, are consumed due to the nutritional properties and health promoters that have been recognized in their components. The current study aimed to characterization of chia ( Salvia hispanica L.), moringa ( Moringa oleifera Lam.) and flax ( Linum usitatissimum L.) oils, in order to enable their applications in the development of new food products. Results showed that there were significant differences in various quality parameters such as saponification number, peroxide value, free fatty acids in oils extracted from non-conventional and conventional resources. All oils showed adequate values for acidity and oxidation status. Chia and flax oils showed a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (>70%), especially α-Linolenic acid, while moringa oil was rich in oleic acid. Moringa oil stood out for its higher oxidative stability (31.96 h) and higher amount of phenolic compounds (633.7 mg/kg) and carotenoids (17.50 mg/kg), but chia oil had higher content of total tocopherols (552.53 mg/kg). Thus, the oils can be used in technological processes and/ or in the formulation of new food products, in order to increase the nutritional value.
Development of Rubric of Higher Order Thinking Skills Assessment on Mathematics Learning

This research aims to develop a rubric of Higher-Order Thinking Skills Assessment on mathematics learning that is valid, reliable, and practical. The Plomp's developmental method, the Generic model for educational design, was deployed to develop the HOTS assessment rubric. The method consisted of 4 phases, namely; (1) preliminary investigation, (2) design, (3) development, and (4) implementation and evaluation. The rubric was designed and developed to measure students' higher-order thinking skills in mathematics learning. The rubric was developed by integrating HOTS characteristics in mathematics: critical thinking, problem-solving, mathematical understanding, mathematical modeling, proof and reasoning, mathematical representation, and mathematical communication. The HOTS assessment rubric's quality was examined using Plomp's product/prototype quality criteria: (1) validity, (2) reliability, and (3) practicality/usability. The rubric of the HOTS assessment was validated by two validators that are experts on HOTS in mathematics. The practicality/usability of the rubrics was examined by five mathematics teachers from different Junior High schools. The validity and reliability were measured using Gregory's Expert Agreement Index (EAI), while the rubric's practicality was analyzed using practicality product criteria. The research shows that the validity of the rubric of HOTS assessment on mathematics learning is 0.82 (valid), and the reliability is 0.79 (reliable). Meanwhile, the practicality of the rubric is 81.02 (Good). In conclusion, the rubric of the HOTS assessment on mathematics learning is valid, reliable, and practical to use to measure students' higher-order thinking skills in mathematics learning.