Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High-Quality Teacher Professional Development and Classroom Teaching Practices: Evidence from Talis 2013

This paper examines the contribution of high-quality teacher professional development (TPD) to the strategies teachers report using to improve students’ learning in the classroom. What was taught in this TPD, and how it was delivered to teachers is compared across the 35 educational systems with available data in TALIS 2013. Results suggest that teachers who take part in curriculum-focused TPD are more likely to report using a variety of the instructional methods considered in this study. Furthermore, TPD delivered with greater levels of teacher collaboration, active learning and longer duration also increases, in many countries and economies, the likelihood of teachers reporting using a large number of these strategies. In contrast, teachers’ exposure to TPD involving other teachers from the school (i.e. with collective participation) seems to be specifically detrimental for active teaching methods. The paper discusses the prevalence of these features, national gaps in their exposure and policy implications derived from these findings. Cet article examine dans quelle mesure un developpement professionnel de qualite (DP) peut aider les enseignants a trouver des strategies pour ameliorer l'apprentissage des eleves en classe. Dans les 35 systemes scolaires pour lesquels les donnees sont disponibles dans TALIS 2013, on compare le contenu et la maniere de procurer ce developpement professionnel aux enseignants. Les resultats suggerent que le DP axe sur le curriculum augmente la probabilite que les enseignants declarent utiliser une variete de methodes d’instruction decrites dans cette etude. En outre, les enseignants qui declarent avoir participe a des activites de developpement professionnel mettant en oeuvre un niveau eleve de collaboration entre enseignants et un apprentissage actif sur le long terme utilisent un nombre important de ces strategies. En revanche, l'exposition des enseignants au DP impliquant d'autres enseignants de l'ecole (par exemple avec la participation collective) semble etre particulierement nefaste pour les methodes pedagogiques actives. Ce document traite de la prevalence de ces caracteristiques, des lacunes nationales dans leur exposition et des implications politiques decoulant de ces conclusions.
Climate change scenarios for Tibetan Plateau summer precipitation based on canonical correlation analysis

Precipitation in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) reaches its peak in summer. The seasonal projection skill of a statistical downscaling model (SDM) for summer precipitation in the TP was compared with that of direct model output. The SDM, which is based on canonical correlation analysis (CCA), significantly increased the projection skill. The CCA reveals the flow patterns behind the seasonal projection skill of summer precipitation in the TP between 1961 and 2012 and quantifies its relative contributions. East Asia 500 hPa geopotential height (ZG500), tropical Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) and east Asia 850 hPa meridional water vapour flux (MWVF850), obtained from the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model, low‐resolution (MPI‐ESM‐LR) simulations for phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project under the representative concentration pathway (RCP) 2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios are considered as potential predictors. The SDMs are established in 1961–2005, validated in 2006–2012 and applied in 2013–2100. The ensemble canonical correlation (ECC) is also applied to improve projection skill. The following results are obtained: (1) The SDM projection skill for each predictor is higher than that of the MPI‐ESM‐LR climate model, and ECC performs even better. (2) Spatial correlation patterns of different predictors with influence on the TP are well recognized by CCA. The high relevance of ZG500 can be explained by the thermal adaptation theory, that of SST exhibits a canonical Indian Ocean Dipole mode, and MWVF850 shows a simple water vapour link. (3) The amount of summer precipitation in the TP will slightly decrease under RCP2.6 by −3.4 mm decade−1, whereas RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 reveal an increase by 2.4 and 18.4 mm decade−1, respectively.
Sediments Composition and Morphology of the Fosu Lagoon Barrier Beach, Bakaano, Cape Coast, Ghana

This research examined the Fosu Lagoon Barrier Beach sediment composition at Bakaano in the Cape Coast Metropolis. The researchers focused on the physical attributes of the Fosu Lagoon Barrier Beach at Bakaano in Cape Coast and analysed its sediment composition. The paper analysed twelve (12) samples or specimens of soils/sediments at the laboratory to determine the sediment composition of the barrier beach. The physical dimensions of the barrier beach were measured in the field with a tape measure and a Global Positioning System (GPS). The study established that the Fosu Lagoon Barrier Beach is approximately 130m long and 58m wide. It is shallow in height, about 10m above sea level and composed mainly of coarse sand particles. The granulated sand composition has made this barrier beach fragile. Aside from wave action, human-induced factors were prominent in the catchment area, such as sand mining and artificial breaching of the barrier, accounting for the temporal changes in its physical characteristics. The paper recommends that the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly should play a critical role in protecting and maintaining the feature by regulating threatening human activities carried out on it.
Retargeting Low-Resolution Aerial Imagery by Distribution-Preserving Perceptual Feature Selection

This work presents a novel low-resolution (LR) aerial image retargeting pipeline, wherein the key is an active perception learning coupled with a distribution-preserving feature selector. We focus on engineering perceptual and descriptive visual representations for optimally shrinking different regions inside each LR aerial photo. In particular, by mimicking how humans sequentially perceiving different salient regions, an active learning paradigm is deployed to divide an LR aerial image into a succinct set of attractive regions coupled with the remaining non-attractive regions. Theoretically, the deployed active learning paradigm ensures that the selected attractive regions can maximally reconstruct the target LR aerial image, which accurately captures human gaze allocation. Subsequently, a semi-supervised distribution-preserving feature selector (DPFS) is proposed to acquire high quality features from the above selected attractive regions. Noticeably, DPFS only require a small proportion of LR aerial images to be labeled. And the labeled/unlabeled sample distribution are optimally preserved during feature selection(FS). The acquired high quality features are finally used to learn a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) for retargeting. Plenty of empirical results have shown the superiority of the proposed algorithm.
Trends in Air Pollution in Europe, 2000–2019

This paper encompasses an assessment of air pollution trends in rural environments in Europe over the 2000–2019 period, benefiting from extensive long-term observational data from the EMEP monitoring network and EMEP MSC-W model computations. The trends in pollutant concentrations align with the decreasing emission patterns observed throughout Europe. Annual average concentrations of sulfur dioxide, particulate sulfate, and sulfur wet deposition have shown consistent declines of 3–4% annually since 2000. Similarly, oxidized nitrogen species have markedly decreased across Europe, with an annual reduction of 1.5–2% in nitrogen dioxide concentrations, total nitrate in the air, and oxidized nitrogen deposition. Notably, emission reductions and model predictions appear to slightly surpass the observed declines in sulfur and oxidized nitrogen, indicating a potential overestimation of reported emission reductions. Ammonia emissions have decreased less compared to other pollutants since 2000. Significant reductions in particulate ammonium have however, been achieved due to the impact of reductions in SO x and NO x emissions. For ground level ozone, both the observed and modelled peak levels in summer show declining trends, although the observed decline is smaller than modelled. There have been substantial annual reductions of 1.8% and 2.4% in the concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 , respectively. Elemental carbon has seen a reduction of approximately 4.5% per year since 2000. A similar reduction for organic carbon is only seen in winter when primary anthropogenic sources dominate. The observed improvements in European air quality emphasize the importance of comprehensive legislations to mitigate emissions.
Modeling and simulation for healthcare operations management using high performance computing and agent-based model

Hospital based Emergency Departments (EDs) serve as the primary gateway to the acute healthcare system, are struggling to provide timely care to a steadily increasing number of unscheduled visits. It is a highly integrated service units that primarily handles the needs of the patients arriving without prior appointment, and with uncertain conditions. In this context, analysis and management of patient flows play a key role in developing policies and decision tools for overall performance improvement of the system. However, patient flows in EDs are considered to be very complex because of the different pathways patients may take and the inherent uncertainty and variability of healthcare processes. Due to the complexity and crucial role of an ED in the healthcare system, the ability to accurately represent, simulate and predict performance of ED is invaluable for decision makers to solve operations management problems. One way to realize this requirement is by modeling and simulation. In this thesis, we build high fidelity simulation tools to identify system bottleneck, quantitatively predict the benefit and cost of a policy, and discovery knowledge for a better understanding of the complex ED system. The agentbased model and simulation technique provides a flexible way to study ED operations as it predicts the systemlevel behavior from micro-level interactions, so as to see the forest through the trees.
3D PROCESSING OF HIGH-RESOLUTION SATELLITE IMAGES

High-resolution satellite images at sub-5m footprint are becoming increasingly available to the earth observation community and their respective clients. The related cameras are all using linear array CCD technology for image sensing. The possibility and need for accurate 3D object reconstruction requires a sophisticated camera model, being able to deal with such sensor geometry. We have recently developed a full suite of new methods and software for the precision processing of this kind of data. The software can accommodate images from IKONOS, QuickBird, ALOS PRISM, SPOT5 HRS and sensors of similar type to be expected in the future. We will report about the status of the software, the functionality and some new algorithmic approaches in support of the processing concept. The functionality will be verified by results from various pilot projects. We put particular emphasis on the automatic generation of DSMs, which can be done at sub-pixel accuracy and on the semi-automated generation of city models.
Long-term Add-on Yoga Therapy Modulates Oxidative Stress Pathway and Offers Clinical Benefits in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Yoga therapy (YT) as an adjunct treatment has reportedly been demonstrated to offer clinical benefits in major depressive disorder (MDD). Although a few biological pathways are suggested to mediate the effects of yoga, the precise mechanistic basis remains unknown. Oxidative stress pathway activation has consistently been linked to the pathobiology of MDD. Whether YT has a modulatory effect on the oxidative stress pathway in MDD is not adequately understood. Aim and Objectives: In this study, we examined the impact of a course (3 months) of yoga as an add on therapy on the markers of the oxidative stress pathway in MDD patients. Methods: Thirty-three MDD patients were randomized to the YT (n = 16) and waitlist control (WC) (n = 17) groups. Colorimetric estimation of the plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant (AO) levels was performed in all the study participants using commercially available kits at the baseline and after 3 months. Results: A significant reduction of plasma MDA levels was observed in MDD patients of YT group (P = 0.05) after 3 months of YT. Notably, the plasma MDA levels also decreased in MDD patients of WC group (P = 0.015) after the trial period. In addition, levels of total AO showed a trend toward significance only in MDD patients after 3 months of YT (P = 0.07). Conclusion: The current study suggests that the benefits of YT might be mediated through its modulatory role on the oxidative stress pathway in MDD.
Etude de faisabilité technico-économique des centrales photovoltaïques en Algérie

L’Algérie occupe une surface de 2 381 741 km2, cela lui donne l’avantage de posséder les diverses sources d’énergie renouvelables comme l’énergie éolienne et l’énergie solaire. Cette dernière commence à avoir la lumière, l’état algérien a lancé un programme ambitieux de développement de cette filière à travers le lancement de plusieurs projets comme pour le cas des centrales photovoltaïques installées dans les Hauts Plateaux et au Sud de l’Algérie totalisant une capacité de plus de 350 Mégawatts. Ainsi, le présent travail s’inscrit dans une optique d’accompagnement du programme de développement des énergies renouvelables en Algérie et ce à travers l’élaboration d’étude de faisabilité technico-économique de centrales photovoltaïques en Algérie.
Inventaire des reptiles de la région de la Réserve de Biosphère Transfrontalière du W (Niger/Bénin/Burkina Faso: Afrique de l'Ouest)

Les informations disponibles sur les reptiles non-aviens d'Afrique de l'Ouest restent encore aujourd'hui tres parcellaires et, en particulier, la bibliographie fournit bien peu de renseignements sur l'herpetofaune des zones protegees du complexe WAP (Reserve de Biosphere Transfrontaliere du W, parcs de l'Arly et de la Pendjari). A la demande du projet ECOPAS et grâce a un financement du CIRAD nous avons entrepris, de mai 2006 a novembre 2007, un inventaire herpetologique de la region de la Reserve de Biosphere Transfrontaliere du W situee a cheval sur trois pays: Niger, Benin et Burkina Faso. Cette etude a permis de recenser 83 especes de reptiles, ce qui represente une biodiversite exceptionnelle pour une zone de savane africaine ; de plus nous avons decouvert dans la Reserve du W, grâce a cette etude, une nouvelle espece de cobra du groupe Naja haje. L'analyse biogeographique montre que, outre cinq especes ubiquistes, la majorite des especes de la region (70%) sont typiques des zones de savanes soudaniennes. Cependant un cortege de 17 especes sahelo-sahariennes penetre dans la partie septentrionale de la region, tandis que trois especes typiquement guineennes remontent jusqu'au Sud de la reserve a la faveur des galeries forestieres.
Poorer self-reported mental health and general health among first year upper secondary school students do not predict school dropout: a five-year prospective study

Introduction Education is important for socioeconomic, work and health status; thus, dropping out of secondary school is of major concern. In Norway, 1 out of 5 is dropping out from upper secondary education. Academic performance is a known predictor for dropout, but the role of mental and general health status is studied less. Methods By use of student data collected during the first school year we examined the accumulated risk of school dropout over 5 years. Students entering upper secondary school in a North-Norwegian region (Troms County) completed a comprehensive questionnaire during August 2010 (N = 1,676, 69% response rate). The contribution of mental and general health problems in predicting five-year dropout was of primary interest, adjusted for demographics and academic performance. Results One-third of the students had dropped out after 5 years. A logistic regression analysis showed no significant effect of mental and general health problems on dropout. Among the covariates, higher grades from lower secondary education reduced the chance of dropping out (OR = 0.31; p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that students in the vocational track reported poorer mental and general health, compared to students in the general track, but this difference was not related to dropout. General track students were also less likely to drop out than vocational track students (OR for dropout 0.66; p < 0.05). Discussion In conclusion, lower grades from lower secondary education represented a warning flag for school dropout during upper secondary education whereas mental health issues were not.
Using Canopy Hyperspectral Reflectance to Predict Growth Traits and Seed Yield of Soybeans from Middle and Lower Yangtze Valleys through Partial Least Squares Regression

Hyperspectral remote sensing technique as a fast and non-destructive method can estimate growth traits and yield in crop,which provides an effective tool for field evaluation and selection in large-scale breeding programs. In the present study,a field experiment comparing 52 soybean varieties with similar flowering and maturity dates were tested a randomized blocks design with three replications in two years. The measurement of leaf area index( LAI) and aboveground biomass( ABM) was synchronized with the information collection of the canopy hyperspectral reflectance at R2,R4,and R5 growth stages. The seed yield was acquired after harvest. The partial least squares regression( PLSR) between canopy spectral reflectance at different growth stages and growth traits and seed yield showed that the PLSR models of ABM and LAI at different growth stages could explain65. 5% ~ 67. 0% and 54. 4% ~ 61. 0% of the total variance of ABM and LAI,respectively,and R5 stage performed as the best of the three growth stages for predicting yield using canopy spectral reflectance with an explanation up to 66. 1% of the total seed yield variance. The results can serve a quick and non-destructive technique for monitoring field growing status and predicting yield in large-scale soybean breeding programs.
Self-Supervised Adaptive Illumination Estimation for Low-Light Image Enhancement

In low-light image enhancement tasks, global structure and local texture details have different effects on illumination estimation. However, most existing works fail to effectively explore the intrinsic association within them. To effectively balance the structure-preserving and texture-smoothing for illumination maps, this paper introduces a new illumination smoothing loss and proposes a self-supervised adaptive illumination estimation network (AIE-Net). The illumination smoothing loss achieves a balance between structure-preserving and texture-smoothing mainly through L2 norm, truncated Huber, and Gaussian kernel function with color affinity. To construct AIE-Net, we introduce a local-global adaptive modulation (LGAM) module in deep feature extraction. The module allows local and global features to be adaptively fused in a spatially varying manner by predicting scaling and adding factors. Finally, we separately estimate the illumination maps for the input image and its inverted image, and then achieve exposure correction with multi-exposure fusion. Extensive experiments show that the proposed method can improve image quality under different light conditions, and has better performance and generalization ability than other methods on several datasets.
Analysis of Different Facets of the Rule of 10 for Cleft Lip Repair for Their Application in the Current Era

Objective: To evaluate the relevance of the "rule of 10" as a deciding factor preoperatively for patients undergoing cleft lip repair in the Indian sub-continent. Design: A questionnaire survey was conducted. Setting: All tertiary cleft care centers in the Indian subcontinent participated in an online questionnaire survey with anesthetic and surgical professionals. Main outcome: The primary goal of this survey was to determine the relevance and applicability of various aspects of the rule of 10 as a preoperative guideline for determining the timing of cleft lip repair in ASA I infants. The survey also aids in understanding the systemic factors that need to be prioritized and factors that are no longer of primary relevance in defining the timeline to undertake cleft lip repair in infants in the current era. Results: Surgeons and anesthetists from 31 tertiary cleft centers in India responded to the questionnaire. Specifically, 64.5% do not apply the “rule of 10” for deciding the timing of cleft lip repair, and 77% of the centers reported that cleft lip repair can be taken up in infants with hemoglobin levels in the range of 9-10 g/dL and an average weight of 4.5 kg. The average blood loss in unilateral lip repair ranged between 5 and 10 mL and 10 and 40 mL in children with bilateral lip repair. Three to six months was the average age at which cleft lip repair was undertaken at most of the centers in India. Conclusion: The rule of 10 is not considered a gold standard by most of the centers in India, and the decision-making was based on the overall physiological status of the patients, the experience of the surgeon, and the anesthetic and post-operative care facilities available at the center.
The use of mechanical circulatory support in elective high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions: a literature-based review

Abstract Contemporary medical practices allow complete percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a considerable number of patients who previously would have been considered too ‘high-risk’ for such procedures. The use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices during these high-risk PCIs (HR-PCIs) is thought to reduce the potential risk for major adverse events during and after revascularization. The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO), and the Impella are the most common MCS devices in use. This review aims to summarize the clinical evidence for each of these devices and the potential mechanisms for the improvement in patient outcomes in HR-PCI. The IABP use has rapidly declined in recent years due to no evidence of benefit in HR-PCI and cardiogenic shock. The V-A ECMO results in low rates of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) but higher rates of acute kidney injury and increased need for transfusions. In initial studies, Impella resulted in a reduced need for repeat interventions and reduced rates of hypotension, but no benefit in mortality. However, MACCE rates with Impella have gradually declined over the last 10 years, reflecting increased operator experience and technical improvements. Thus, a large, randomized trial is needed to assess the efficacy of Impella in HR-PCI with contemporary standards of care. There is currently no individual parameter that can identify patients who would benefit from MCS use in elective HR-PCI. To address this gap, we propose an algorithm that combines anatomical complexity, comorbidities, and clinical presentation to accurately identify candidates for MCS-assisted HR-PCI.