Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Photoacoustic-based thermal image formation and optimization using an evolutionary genetic algorithm

Introduction: For improved efficiency and security in heat application during hyperthermia, it is important to monitor tissue temperature during treatments. Photoacoustic (PA) pressure wave amplitude has a temperature dependence given by the Gruenesein parameter. Consequently, changes in PA signal amplitude carry information about temperature variation in tissue. Therefore, PA has been proposed as an imaging technique to monitor temperature during hyperthermia. However, no studies have compared the performance of different algorithms to generate PA-based thermal images. Methods: Here, four methods to estimate variations in PA signal amplitude for thermal image formation were investigated: peak-to-peak, integral of the modulus, autocorrelation of the maximum value, and energy of the signal. Changes in PA signal amplitude were evaluated using a 1-D window moving across the entire image. PA images were acquired for temperatures ranging from 36oC to 41oC using a phantom immersed in a temperature controlled thermal bath. Results: The results demonstrated that imaging processing parameters and methods involved in tracking variations in PA signal amplitude drastically affected the sensitivity and accuracy of thermal images formation. The sensitivity fluctuated more than 20% across the different methods and parameters used. After optimizing the parameters to generate the thermal images using an evolutionary genetic algorithm (GA), the percentage of pixels within the acceptable error was improved, in average, by 7.5%. Conclusion: Optimization of processing parameters using GA could increase the accuracy of measurement for this experimental setup and improve quality of PA-based thermal images.
Research on computationally adaptive plenoptic imaging

As for computational adaptive plenoptic imaging system, the light-field of the target and interference are measured together, and then according to distribution characteristics of the four-dimensional light-field information between the target and the disturbed factors, target and disturbed factors can be effectively separated. This technique can be used to detect and recover the wavefront distortion caused by interference in the large field of view, and adaptively compensate for complicated wavefront aberration by means of computation. Compared with the traditional adaptive optics imaging method, the proposed method has a larger detecting field of view, and can directly analyze and compute wavefront information based on the extended target.
A study on improving the calibration of body scanner built on multiple RGB-Depth cameras

Purpose The calibration is a key but cumbersome process for 3D body scanning using multiple depth cameras. The purpose of this paper is to simplify the calibration process by introducing a new method to calibrate the extrinsic parameters of multiple depth cameras simultaneously. Design/methodology/approach An improved method is introduced to enhance the accuracy based on the virtual checkerboards. Laplace coordinates are employed for a point-to-point adjustment to increase the accuracy of scanned data. A system with eight depth cameras is developed for full-body scanning, and the performance of this system is verified by actual results. Findings The agreement of measurements between scanned human bodies and the real subjects demonstrates the accuracy of the proposed method. The entire calibration process is automatic. Originality/value A complete algorithm for a full human body scanning system is introduced in this paper. This is the first publically study on the refinement and the point-by-point adjustment based on the virtual checkerboards toward the scanning accuracy enhancement.
Elaboration of a RST Chinese Treebank

As a subfield of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP) aims to automatically process human languages. Fruitful achievements of variant studies from different research fields for NLP exist. Among these research fields, discourse analysis is becoming more and more popular. Discourse information is crucial for NLP studies. As the most spoken language in the world, Chinese occupy a very important position in NLP analysis. Therefore, this work aims to present a discourse treebank for Chinese, whose theoretical framework is Rhetorical Structure Theory (RST) (Mann and Thompson, 1988). In this work, 50 Chinese texts form the research corpus and the corpus can be consulted from the following aspects: segmentation, central unit (CU) and discourse structure. Finally, we create an open online interface for the Chinese treebank.
Estimation of Shear Wave Velocity Profiles Employing Genetic Algorithms and the Diffuse Field Approach on Microtremors Array: Implications on Liquefaction Hazard at Port of Spain, Trinidad

This book chapter explains the methodology to determine the shear wave velocity V S profile employing microtremors array data at Port of Spain, Trinidad, and its implication in the seismic amplification and liquefaction hazard in the city. We divide this study into five sections; firstly, we introduce a description of the spectral autocorrelation method and the genetic algorithm schemes to retrieve the Vs and thickness of soil layers. Secondly, we validate the soil profiles via inspection of the ellipticity pattern at such sites; we also compared the observed horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (H/V) with the synthetic ones derived by the Diffuse Field Approach and 1D theoretical SH wave amplification functions. Thirdly, we compute the shear wave velocity in the first 30 m obtained from our genetic inversion and compared with the ones estimated by the empirical formulas based on geomorphological conditions. Fourthly, we present a preliminary liquefaction hazard map based on the level of H/V microtremor ratios and the fundamental period of vibration. Finally, we conclude with further recommendations for planning purposes in the city of Port of Spain.
On the representation of water reservoir storage and operations in large-scale hydrological models: implications on model parameterization and climate change impact assessments

Abstract. During the past decades, the increased impact of anthropogenic interventions on river basins has prompted hydrologists to develop various approaches for representing human–water interactions in large-scale hydrological and land surface models. The simulation of water reservoir storage and operations has received particular attention, owing to the ubiquitous presence of dams. Yet, little is known about (1) the effect of the representation of water reservoirs on the parameterization of hydrological models, and, therefore, (2) the risks associated with potential flaws in the calibration process. To fill in this gap, we contribute a computational framework based on the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model and a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm, which we use to calibrate VIC's parameters. An important feature of our framework is a novel variant of VIC's routing model that allows us to simulate the storage dynamics of water reservoirs. Using the upper Mekong river basin as a case study, we calibrate two instances of VIC – with and without reservoirs. We show that both model instances have the same accuracy in reproducing daily discharges (over the period 1996–2005), a result attained by the model without reservoirs by adopting a parameterization that compensates for the absence of these infrastructures. The first implication of this flawed parameter estimation stands in a poor representation of key hydrological processes, such as surface runoff, infiltration, and baseflow. To further demonstrate the risks associated with the use of such a model, we carry out a climate change impact assessment (for the period 2050–2060), for which we use precipitation and temperature data retrieved from five global circulation models (GCMs) and two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs 4.5 and 8.5). Results show that the two model instances (with and without reservoirs) provide different projections of the minimum, maximum, and average monthly discharges. These results are consistent across both RCPs. Overall, our study reinforces the message about the correct representation of human–water interactions in large-scale hydrological models.
A Method For Detecting Duplicate And Near-Duplicate Images Penetration

A method for detection of duplicate or near-duplicate image penetration from images in the similar group by distribution of color and other attributes of the image. Distinctive sceneries of the images penetration are identified. Each couple of images penetration with at least one distictive scenary is mutual; the distictive scenary of each image penetration is allied to normalize whether the couple is duplicates or near-duplicates.
Using SAR Winds to Evaluate Synoptic and Mesoscale Features in Forecast Operations

MSC's marine forecast areas in the Pacific waters are adjacent to the complex terrain and coastlines of British Columbia and subjected to localized terraindriven winds. Sparse weather observations at the coast and offshore decrease the amount of upstream data and the accuracy in placing synoptic-scale and mesoscale meteorological features critical to analysis, thus making marine weather forecasting a challenging task. Many of the details visible in the SAR images do not exist within the observation network, scatterometer data, or in model data. High-resolution, accurate and timely wind fields like the SAR-based winds are desirable to improve marine weather forecast operations.
Ricciopsis sandaolingensis sp. nov., a new fossil bryophyte from the Middle Jurassic Xishanyao Formation in the Turpan-Hami Basin, Xinjiang, Northwest China

The liverwort family Ricciaceae has a very sparse fossil record in contrast to its large number of living species and its wide distribution. Fossil thalli collected from the Middle Jurassic Xishanyao Formation at the Sandaoling coal mine, Xinjiang, Northwest China are described. Based on detailed comparison of the gross morphology with related fossil and extant species, we assign these thalli to the fossil genus Ricciopsis and establish a new species Ricciopsis sandaolingensis sp. nov. (Ricciaceae). The new fossil species is characterized by its circular-shaped and rosette-forming thallus, dichotomous branching, linear segments, prominent median ridge and entire margins. Ricciopsis sandaolingenesis probably lived on wet or damp soil close to bodies of water, in the shade of ginkgoalean trees in warm and humid climatic conditions. This discovery represents the first fossil record of Marchantiopsida from the Middle Jurassic Xishanyao Formation in the Turpan-Hami Basin, Xinjiang, Northwest China. Ruiyun Li. State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environments (Northwest University), Northwest University Museum, Xi'an, 710069, China. liruiyun@nwu.edu. cn Xiaoqiang Li. Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi’an, 710054, China. lixq_07@lzu.cn Hongshan Wang. Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800, USA. hwang@flmnh.ufl. edu Bainian Sun. School of Earth Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China. bnsun@lzu.edu. cn
Socioeconomic Development of Regions of Siberia and Russian Far East: Statistical Analysis

The economic development of Russia, given the country’s vast territory, the distribution patterns of natural resources and population, and the diverse climate conditions, is logically uneven and characterized by territorial variation. Particular focus of the federal government should be placed on the conditions emerging in Siberia and the Russian Far East. The major limiting factor is the increasing population outflows to the central federal subjects of the Russian Federation, particularly visible among the working-age population. Apart from it, another limiting factor is the natural conditions in these two federal districts, namely, the harsh weather conditions, the typical inland climate, seismic activity, etc. Moreover, a major part of Siberia and the Far East is designated as a territory with special requirements in terms of natural resource development, which is due to the existing national reserves and parks. The Baikal natural area, the basin of Lake Baikal, are of particular importance. These factors have brought to the foreground the need for a break-up of the Siberia Federal District and the Far East Federal District to improve the economic efficiency of such spacious areas of the country. There is a proposal to establish a new federal district known under the working reference as “Central Eurasia” and meant to include the Republics of Buryatia, Tyva, Khakassia, and Sakha (Yakutia), the Trans-Baikal and Krasnoyarsk Territories and the Irkutsk region. The proposed spatial arrangement of productive forces would improve the efficiency of use of both labor and natural resources.
Principles of structural geology on rocky planets

Although Earth is the only known planet on which plate tectonics operates, many small- and large-scale tectonic landforms indicate that deformational processes also occur on the other rocky planets. Although the mechanisms of deformation differ on Mercury, Venus, and Mars, the surface manifestations of their tectonics are frequently very similar to those found on Earth. Furthermore, tectonic processes invoked to explain deformation on Earth before the recognition of horizontal mobility of tectonic plates remain relevant for the other rocky planets. These connections highlight the importance of drawing analogies between the rocky planets for characterizing deformation of their lithospheres and for describing, applying appropriate nomenclature, and understanding the formation of their resulting tectonic structures. Here we characterize and compare the lithospheres of the rocky planets, describe structures of interest and where we study them, provide examples of how historic views on geology are applicable to planetary tectonics, and then apply these concepts to Mercury, Venus, and Mars.
Effect of Partial Substitution of Mineral Nitrogen Fertilizer by Farm Compost on Soil Fertility and Productivity

A field trial was conducted at Middle Egypt area (Sids Agric. Res. Station), Beni Suief Governorate (clay soils) for two successive summer seasons 2015/2016 using maize plant, variety (Th 310), to study the effect of partial substitution of mineral nitrogen fertilizer by farm composted (rice straw, corn stover and mixture of them) on soil fertility improvement, maize yields, its components and grains quality. Treatments comprised (100% mineral) recommended rates of N, P and K& (75% mineral-N + 25% rice straw) & (50% mineral-N + 50% rice straw) & (100% rice straw) & (75% mineral-N + 25% corn stover)& (50% mineral-N + 50% corn stover) & (100% corn stover) & 75% mineral-N + 25% (rice straw + corn stover) & 50% mineral-N + 50% (rice straw + corn stover) & 100 % (rice straw + corn stover). The obtained results (average of two seasons) indicated that: *A slight decrease in soil salinity ECe (dS m ) and soil pH, in the rhizosphere of grown maize after harvesting. In the other hand, soil organic matter was increased with farm composted and mineral-N fertilizer application. *Residual available soil N, P and K were increased with farm composted and mineral – N fertilizer application. * A significant increase in maize grain yield due to farmcomposted and /or mineral-N fertilizer application. The highest values were (8.58 and 8.52 Mg ha) which achieved upon treating with (75% mineral-N + 25% corn stover) treatment, then 75% mineral-N + 25% (rice straw + corn stover) treatment, respectively. *A significant increase in proteins%, P% and K % in maize grains yield. The highest value which reached to 10.37, 0.42 and 0.72, for Proteins%, P% and K %, respectively which achieved upon treating with (75% mineral-N + 25% corn stover) treatments, then 10.34, 0.40 and 0.70, for Proteins%, P %and K %, respectively, which achieved upon treating with (75% mineral –N + 25 (rice straw + corn stover((*These data already reflected on the proteins yields, P and K uptake .The highest value reached to 887, 36.03 and 61.77 (kg ha) for proteins yields, P and K uptake, respectively. This achieved upon treating with (75% mineral -N+ 25% corn stover) treatments, then 884, 34.08 and 59.64 (kg ha) for proteins yields, P and K uptake, respectively. This achieved upon treating with ((75% mineral-N + 25% (rice straw + corn)).
Identification of groundwater mean transit times of precipitation and riverbank infiltration by two‐component lumped parameter models

Groundwater transit time is an essential hydrologic metric for groundwater resources management. However, especially in tropical environments, studies on the transit time distribution (TTD) of groundwater infiltration and its corresponding mean transit time (mTT) have been extremely limited due to data sparsity. In this study, we primarily use stable isotopes to examine the TTDs and their mTTs of both vertical and horizontal infiltration at a riverbank infiltration area in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD), representative of the tropical climate in Asian monsoon regions.
Image enhancement framework for low-resolution thermal images in visible and LWIR camera systems

Infrared (IR) thermography camera became an essential tool for monitoring applications such as pedestrian detection and equipment monitoring. Most commonly used IR cameras are Long Wavelength Infrared (LWIR) cameras due to their suitable wavelength for environmental temperature. Even though the cost of LWIR cameras had been on a decline, the affordable ones only provided low-resolution images. Enhancement techniques that could be applied to visible images often failed to perform correctly on low-resolution LWIR images. Many attempts on thermal image enhancement had been on high-resolution images. Stereo calibration between visible cameras and LWIR cameras had recently been improved in term of accuracy and ease of use. Recent visible cameras and LWIR cameras are bundled into one device, giving the capability of simultaneously taking visible and LWIR images. However, few works take advantage of this camera systems. In this work, image enhancement framework for visible and LWIR camera systems is proposed. The proposed framework consists of two inter-connected modules: visible image enhancement module and LWIR image enhancement module. The enhancement technique that will be experimented is image stitching which serves two purposes: view expansion and super-resolution. The visible image enhancement module follows a regular workflow for image stitching. The intermediate results such as homography and seam carvings labels are passed to LWIR image enhancement module. The LWIR image enhancement module aligns LWIR images to visible images using stereo calibrations results and utilizes already computed homography from visible images to avoid feature extraction and matching on LWIR images. The framework is able to handle difference in image resolution between visible images and LWIR images by performing sparse pixel-to-pixel version of image alignment and image projection. Experiments show that the proposed framework leads to richer image stitching's results comparing to the results from an existing commercial software.
Integral data assimilation of the MERCI-1 experiment for the nuclear data associated with the PWR decay heat computation

Nuclear decay heat is a crucial issue for PWR in-core safety after reactor shutdown and back-end cycle. It is a dimensioning parameter for safety injection systems (SIS) to avoid a dewatering of the reactor core. The decay heat uncertainty needs to be controlled over the largest range of applications. The assimilation of the MERCI-1 experiment was studied to provide feedbacks on nuclear data. This experiment consisted in the measurement of the decay heat of a PWR UOX fuel sample irradiated in the OSIRIS reactor, for cooling times between 45 minutes and 42 days. More specifically, the consideration of several experimental values of MERCI-1 at different cooling times was tested. This raised issues about correlations to consider between different measurements. Besides, the impact of considering correlations between independent fission yields in covariance matrices on the decay heat uncertainty calculation and on the feedbacks on nuclear data is discussed.
Egypt’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index in Comparison to Competitive Tourism Destinations in the Middle East and North Africa Region

Nowadays tourism has become one the most important industries in the global economy. It has succeeded to support many economies and has been considered a remarkable generator of direct and indirect job opportunities. Therefore, many countries are trying to increase their competitiveness in order to attract tourists and satisfy their needs. Competitiveness is rather a relative concept depending on the variables in question. Many competitiveness models emerged during the last decades. Some of these modelsfocused on the resources, climate, geography of the destinations, while others focused on the level of sustainability adoption and others regarded prices as the major factor affecting competitiveness. This study aims at evaluating the competitiveness of the Travel and Tourism (T&T) sector in Egypt versus some competitive destinations in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. The analysis was based on the secondary data provided by the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report of 2017 issued by the World economic Forum.The report identified some important sub-indexes such as enabling environment, infrastructure, T&T policies and enabling conditions, cultural and natural resources as indicators for T&T competitiveness. In order to answer the research questions, Pearson’s correlation was conducted to assess the strength and direction of relationship between the overall T&T competitiveness index and other sub-indexes. A PESTEL analysis was also conducted to examine whether Egypt has the potentials to enhance its competitive position worldwide if effective destination management policies were applied. The analysis showed that the chosen countries differentiate to a certain extent in some indicators while they share others. As Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are heading others in the pillars related to “Labor market and human resources” and “ICT readiness”, “T&T prioritization” is highly ranked in Jordan, Egypt and Morocco compared to others. Nevertheless, all countries share a drawback in pillar “International openness”. Pearson’s correlation showed that pillars “Business environment”, “Air transport infrastructure” and “ICT readiness” have a stronger positive relationship to the variable overall T&T competitiveness index compared to other variables. The PESTEL analysis revealed that Egypt has the potentials and resources that can support it to enhance its competitiveness in the region. These potentials include “Price competitiveness”, “Prioritization of T&T” by the government, “Cultural and natural resources” in addition to “Air infrastructure”. These strengths have to be sustained by government policies and weaknesses like political instabilities should be effectively restrained in order to improve Egypt’s competitiveness worldwide.