Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced firefly optimizer with deep neural network for the detection of epileptic seizures using EEG signals

Currently, Electroencephalogram (EEG) is extensively used for diagnosing the epilepsy. The objective of this research is to investigate the changes in epilepsy frequency by proposing a new optimization based deep learning model. At first, the EEG recordings were acquired from two online databases; Bern Barcelona (BB), and Bonn University (BU). Then, Chebyshev type two filter was implemented to remove the unwanted artifacts from the acquired EEG signals. Further, Multivariate Variational Mode Decomposition (MVMD) methodology was applied to decompose the denoised EEG signals. The signal decomposition helps in finding the necessary information, which required to model the complex time series data. Then, the features were extracted from decomposed signals by using fifteen entropy, linear and statistical features. In addition, enhanced firefly optimization technique was proposed for optimizing the extracted features. In the enhanced firefly optimizer, a crossover operator of genetic algorithm was added for enhancing the local convergence rate that gives better classification. At last, the optimized feature vectors were classified by Deep Neural Network (DNN) that includes two circumstances (seizure and healthy), and (Interictal, ictal, and normal). From the experimental simulation, the proposed model improvement maximum of 1.4%, and 8.82% of accuracy in BU and BB EEG datasets, respectively related to the existing models.
RIT-18: A Novel Dataset for Compositional Group Activity Understanding

Group activity understanding is a challenging task as multiple people are involved, and their relations may vary over time. Currently, the literature of group activity is limited to group activity recognition, because videos are trimmed in very short duration and focus on a single activity. This slows down the progress in the group activity domain. In this paper, we propose a new largescale untrimmed compositional group activity dataset RIT-18 based on the volleyball games captured from YouTube. Each clip in our dataset depicts an entire rally which spans the duration from serve to a point being scored. Comprehensive annotations including group activity labels, temporal boundaries of activities, key persons, and winning teams are provided. We describe group activity recognition, future activity anticipation, and rally-level winner prediction challenges, and evaluate several baseline methods over these challenges. We report their performance on our dataset and demonstrate further efforts need to be made. The dataset is available at https://pht180.rit. edu/actionlab/rit-18.
An alternative method for determining the energy of hybrid events at the Pierre Auger Observatory

An important feature of the Pierre Auger Observatory is the detection of hybrid events; i.e., extensive air showers simultaneously detected with at least one water-Cherenkov detector (surface detector) and one fluorescence telescope. Here we describe an alternative method of estimating the energy of these events. The shower axis is determined using data from both detector systems. The shower energy is determined from the integrated surface detector signals and the distance of each detector from the shower axis. The energy estimate is facilitated by the characterisation of an average lateral distribution function as a function of the shower energy and zenith angle. The method requires only the signal from one surface detector. Thus, it is useful for estimating the energy of hybrid events for which the geometry cannot be estimated with the surface detectors alone and the longitudinal profile measured by the fluorescence telescopes is not well determined. In the energy range 0.4 < E < 1 EeV, the method doubles the number of hybrid events that can be given an energy estimate. The statistical uncertainty of this energy estimate is dependent on the shower energy and geometry. For events with energy greater than 0.4 EeV, the median statistical uncertainty is 26% and the 90% quantile is 44%.
Big Data Knowledge Discovery Platforms: A 360 Degree Perspective

Big Datais a buzzword affecting nearly every domain and providing different set new opportunity for the development of knowledge discovery process. Although it comes with challengeslike abundance, extensiveness and diversity, timeliness and dynamism, messiness and vagueness, and with an uncertainty as all the data generated does not relates to any specific question and can be associated with another process or activity. To address these challenges are certainly cannot be handled by the traditional infrastructure, platforms and frameworks. New analytical techniques and high performance computing architecture came into picture to handle this explosion. These platforms and architecture are giving a cutting edge to the Big Data Knowledge Discovery process by using Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Expert systems. This study encompasses a comprehensive review of Big Data analytical platforms and frameworks with their comparative analysis. A Knowledge Discovery architecture for Big Data Analytics is also proposed while considering the fundamental aspect of gaining insights from Big Data sets and focus of this analysis is to provide the open challenges associated with these techniques and future research directions.
Prospects of agroforestry species in the woody communities of Northern Togo

The surrender and no juridical statute areas of Northern Togo protected areas were subjected to forest inventory. The data obtained was analyzed after ethnobotanical investigation. The research was conducted in order to determine available forest agroforestry species. It is also aimed to assess and to determine their roles and functions; and to characterize the potential parkland of these areas. The 118 forest samples were processed floristically . Then, Ward method was used through the hierarchical clustering to cluster them into the main group. The agroforestry species sorted after ethnobotanic survey, were analyzed base on the information collected. The results showed that fifty plant species were recorded, among which twenty nine are agroforestry species. The Combretaceae and Leguminous are both the most frequent and the abundant families in the areas. The common agroforestry species still are Vitellaria paradoxa, Parkia biglobosa, Lannea kerstingii, Vitex doniana, Ficus gnaphalocarpa, Sterculia setigera, Tamarindus indica and Adansonia digitata. Four potential agroforestry parklands were found. Parks 2 and 3 present the aspect of regular parkland while the two others include some old fallows and shrubby savanna. The results of this study also show that apart from the frequently quoted agroforestry species, there are also many species which are important for the farmers.
Evaluation of Land Use Land Cover Changes in Nan Province, Thailand, Using Multi-Sensor Satellite Data and Google Earth Engine

Land use and land cover (LULC) conversion has become a chronic problem in Nan province. The primary factors of changes are lacking arable land, agricultural practices, and agriculture expansion. This study evaluated the usefulness of multi-sensor Landsat-5 (LS5), Landsat-8 (LS8), Sentinel-1 (S1), and Sentinel-2 (S2) satellite data for monitoring changes in LULC in Nan province, Thailand during a 30-year period (1990-2019), using a random forest (RF) model and the cloud-based Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Information of established land management policies was also used to describe the LULC changes. The median composite of the input variables selection from multi-sensor data were used to generate datasets. A total of 36 datasets showed the overall accuracy (OA) ranged from 51.70% to 96.95%. Sentinel-2 satellite images combined with the Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI) and topographic variables provided the highest OA (96.95%). Combination of optical (i.e., S2 and LS8) and S1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data expressed better classification accuracy than individual S1 data. Forest cover decreased continuously during five consecutive periods. Coverage of maize and Pará rubber trees rapidly expanded in 2010-2014. These changes indicate an adverse consequence of the established economic development promoted by industrial and export agriculture. The findings strongly support the use of the RF technique, GEE platform and multi-sensor satellite data to enhance LULC classification accuracy in mountainous area. This study recommended that certain informative and science-based evidence will encourage local policymakers to identify priority areas for land management and natural resource conservation.
A Quantitative Study of λ-Phage SWITCH and Its Components

We propose what we believe is a new model to quantitatively describe the λ-phage SWITCH system. The model incorporates facilitated transfer mechanism of transcription factor, which can be simplified into a two-step reaction. We first sequentially obtain two indispensable parameters by fitting our model to experimental data of two simple systems, and then apply them to study the natural λ-SWITCH system. By incorporating the facilitated transfer mechanism, we find that in RecA− host Escherichia coli, the wild-type λ-lysogenic state is in a monostable regime rather than in a bistable regime. Furthermore, the model explains the weak role of Cro protein and probably sheds light on the evolution of λ-Cro protein, which is known to be structurally distinct from the other Cros in lambdoid family members.
Seasonal Variation in the MINOS Detectors

The MINOS Near and Far Detectors have both observed seasonal variations in the underground muon rate (Rμ). This variation is correlated to the change in the temperature of the upper atmosphere. With five years of Far Detector data and two-and-a-half years of Near Detector data this correlation, αT =(T/Rμ)(∂Rμ/∂T ), is measured to be 0.874±0.009(stat.)±0.010(syst.) and 0.43±0.03(stat.) respectively.
Mammary gland biopsy does not affect lactation performance in sows

To determine morphological and molecular characteristics of porcine mammary tissue in vivo, mammary tissue was collected from 18 sows at 3 to 6 d of lactation and 17 to 19 d of lactation using a biopsy technique. The success of the technique was determined by monitoring lactation performance, as evidenced by sow rectal temperature, voluntary feed intake, milk somatic cell count, and piglet average daily gain. Up to 1.7 g of mammary tissue was collected at each biopsy without decreasing sow feed intake or piglet growth. Key words: Biopsy, mammary gland, lactation, sow
TEHNOMUS-New Technologies and Products in Machine Manufacturing Technologies

Complicated contact processes such as the fretting contact of dissimilarly elastic materials require very efficient numerical tools to overcome the complex algorithm structure, involving multiple nested loops, and the time consuming convolution products calculation. This paper presents a contact simulation technique derived from the Boundary Element Method, whose efficiency stems from the use of the Conjugate Gradient method and the fast Fourier transform. The behavior of the fretting contact of coated elastic materials in the first loops is simulated with an algorithm based on three nested loops, until a periodic stability is reached. The fine spatial and temporal resolution promises well-converged numerical solutions. The elastic response of the layered material is derived using closed form results calculated in the frequency domain. The method allows for the prediction of the subsurface stresses in the fretting contact. Subsequent identification of the intensity and position of the maximum equivalent stress provides insight on the propensity of plastic yielding in the coated material.
A DECISION SUPPORT TOOL FOR MODELING TIME-TO-EVENT DATA IN POWER SYSTEMS

Survival analysis, also known as time-to-event analysis, focuses on modeling waiting times until events of interest occur. This paper proposes statistical flowgraph models (SFGMs) as a suitable decision support tool for survival analysis in power systems. SFGMs are useful for modeling time-to-event data that result from a stochastic process. Analysis from the flowgraph model gives an entire waiting time distribution as well as cumulative distribution function, survivor function and hazard function for any total or partial waiting time. The importance of survival analysis in power system is demonstrated when our power supply is disrupted. Two examples illustrated in this paper demonstrate with clarity, the effectiveness of SFGMs to the survival analysis in power systems. One of the advantages of SFGMs is to reduce the multistate models into an equivalent binary-state model. Based on this study, the authors suggest that the use of SFGMs will help decision makers to identify weak points in the system in order to control system conditions.
Influence of selected lifestyle parameters on sperm count in men from infertile couples

Introduction: In recent years, an increasing problem of human fertility is observed. It is estimated that male factor of couple infertility is between 25% and 30% and life – style factors, seem to take part. The aim of the study was investigation which of lifestyle factor influence on sperm count. Material and methods: A total of 116 males (age: 24 – 52 years) from infertile couples were recruited. All participants completed interviews about depressive symptomatology (Beck’s Depression Scale – BDI-II) and lifestyle factors including physical and sexual activity, alcohol and caffeine drinking and smoking habits. Measurement of weight and height was performed and BMI (Body Mass Index) was calculated. Sperm number (concentration, total count) were assessed according to WHO 2010. Spearman’s rank correlation and ANOVA Kruskal–Wallis test and Odds Ratio were performed and considered statistically significant with p < 0.05. Results: The results show a positive correlation between total sperm count, as well as sperm concentration and volume of both testes (r = 0.368; r = 0,38) and also libido score (r = 0.25). Additionally, good mental health (high BDI-II scores) positively correlate with sperm concentration. A negative correlation is observed between total sperm as well as sperm concentration and alcohol consumption (r = – 0.24; r = – 0.25). Lifestyle factors may increase the occurrence of oligozoospermia as has been shown by Odds Ratios analysis. Conclusions: According to this study low libido, obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol and caffeine drinking negatively affect sperm count. The new interesting association between sperm number and sexual activity (libido) was find but further research in this field should be conduct. Słowa kluczowe: styl życia, nasienie, alkohol, palenie, zachowania seksualne, Skala Depresji Becka – II, otyłość, kofeina
Does mixing of senescent and green leaves result in nonadditive effects on leaf decomposition?

Abstract Most studies of the effects of litter mixing have focused on decomposition in mixtures of senescent leaves of different plant species. In temperate forests, substantial quantities of green leaves fall in spring and summer, and previous research has shown that stream detritivores can benefit from the combined use of senescent and green leaves. We conducted a litterbag experiment to test the hypothesis that mixtures of senescent and green leaves of different species decomposed more rapidly, mediated by increased detritivore colonization, than leaves of each type in isolation. The observed abundances of 2 detritivore species, the amphipod Sternomoera rhyaca and the caddisfly Lepidostoma complicatum, were 3 to 6× higher in mixtures of senescent oak and green alder leaves than expected based on litter patches consisting of each species alone. Lepidostoma complicatum also responded positively to mixtures of senescent oak and green maple leaves, but S. rhyaca did not. These results verify that caddisfly behavior can reflect benefits gained from the combined use of senescent and green leaves. In contrast, the extent of the advantage to amphipods depends on the specific combination of senescent and green leaves. Despite the synergistic effect of mixed senescent oak and green alder leaves on detritivore colonization, observed leaf mass loss in mixtures was not higher than expected. Changes in the chemical properties of senescent oak and green alder leaves in mixtures might decrease feeding rates of detritivores because of preferential or compensatory feeding. Mixtures of senescent and green leaves did not alter leaf decomposition of each component in spring and summer, but might enhance leaf decomposition in autumn and winter by augmenting detritivore populations.
Improving Student Learning Outcomes by Using an Applet In Class

With the availability of computers in the classroom, a variety of active learning methods can be used to teach mathematics. This paper presents an example of using an applet to teach a mathematical principle during a unit on cryptology. As part of this unit, two sections of a general education math course were taught how to break the Vigenère cipher using an applet, one by lecture and demonstration of the applet, and the other by allowing the students to experiment with the applet for themselves. The students who had learned by experimenting with the applet retained more knowledge of the process used to break the code than those who had learned by lecture and demonstration. This paper discusses the Vigenère cipher and the method of teaching it using the applet, and summarizes the difference in outcome between the two sections of the course.
Issues in Information Systems

This study examines the influence of perceived fairness on consumer intentions in business-to-consumer electronic commerce. Perceived fairness, a construct mainly examined in management and marketing literature, could play important roles in people’s decision-making process when they shop online. Prior information system online trust research shed little light on this important issue. Based on the psychological contract theory and perceived justice theory, this study studied the nomological network validity of perceived fairness, and whether perceived fairness could influence consumers’ intentions beyond cognitive beliefs such as perceived trust. Psychological contract was proposed and validated as a predictor for perceived fairness. The results could shed light on the importance of customer service policies and help web vendors to improve these policies.
Ingestion of Pythium spp. by larvae of the fungus gnat Bradysia impatiens (Diptera:Sciaridae)

Summary Mycelium, oospores and zoospore cysts of Pythium spp. were fed to larvae of the fungus gnat Bradysia impatiens. The fungal structures were all ingested and provided a complete nutritional source for the insect's development from egg to adult. Mycelium seemed the major source of food as only empty fragments were found either in the digestive tract or in larval faeces. Oospores appeared intact and were viable both during passage through the tract and when expelled. Germination of oospores was normal. Most encysted zoospores also survived passage through the gut, although some appeared damaged. After transferring recently-fed larvae to a new food source, oospores were still detected in the digestive tract 48 h later. These results show that the larval stage of B. impatiens may serve as an important vector for Pythium spp.
Agaricomycotina yeast and other endosymbionts in lac insect (Kerria chinensis)

Lac insect (Kerria chinensis) is one of the most economically important insects in Thailand as they produce shellac that used in many industries. For the living of the plant sap-sucking insect, they have endosymbionts for support the essential nutrients. In this study, we report the detection of the endosymbionts in Kerria chinensis, lac insect. We used the PCR amplification and DNA sequences of 16S rDNA, D1/D2 region of 26S rDNA and 18S rDNA as the molecular tools for this detection. The results showed that there are many kinds of endosymbionts in lac insect (Kerria chinensis). We could detected 4 species of bacteria, 2 yeast species in which one of them is likely to be a novel yeast specie in subphylum Agaricomycotina. Moreover, we could detect the Kerria chinensis yeast-like symbiont (YLS) by using histology for detection and 18S rDNA for confirmation.
Effective Positioning of Shear Wall in G+5 Storey Building on Sloping Ground

Earthquake is a natural calamity. It has been observed that the earthquake has proved to be more fatal in today’s time. The prime reason for this catastrophe is the extermination of the man-made structures during the earthquake, Lack of lateral strength and stability in the manmade structure is the prime reason for their demolition during the earthquake. Mostly man-made structure is multistory buildings for this reason that is necessary for the multistory building to withstand against seismic activities. For the past few decades, some new methods have been adopted to make multistory building laterally strong and stable, a shear wall is one of them which are a structural member which provides lateral stiffness and strength to the structure. The earthquake can be even more lethal on sloping land. This paper studies the influence of shear wall in the multistory building built on sloping ground. For this purpose, four different models have been taken. Modal one is the conventional rigid frame building and the remaining three models are kept with the shear wall. All conditions (ground slope, material, seismic zone, soil condition, etc.) Except for the size of the shear wall are identical. The linear static analysis has been carried out to evaluate the story shear and its reduction as a result in all three cases. The entire analysis is done on software called sap: 2000.
Emotion Evaluation of Simulation Systems in Educational Practice

— The paper argues for the necessity of a mixed approach (biometric tools, sentiment analysis, qualitative techniques) to satisfaction evaluation of the users-students in the Marine Education and proposes a generic, but practical research protocol for this purpose. The proposed approach concerns the satisfaction evaluation of marine simulation systems and combines the biometric tools of gaze tracking & speech recording for measuring emotional user responses with usability testing. The ultimate goal of this research is to find and test the critical factors that influence the satisfaction of students and usability acceptance. The experimental procedure presented here is a primary effort to research the emotion analysis (satisfaction) of the users-students in marine simulating environments.
A Study of Data Security and Security Mechanisms of Cloud Service Providers

– Cloud computing is one of the expanding innovation that is associated with Grid Computing, Utility Computing, Distributed Computing. In today’s world, securing of information assumes an indispensable part. In the processing condition, information protection and information security is prevalent in fields like government, industry, education organizations and business for the future advancement. These are inter-related to both hardware and software. Consequently, this paper analyses the information security solutions and security mechanisms of cloud service providers in Cloud Computing.