Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial patterns in glacier characteristics and area changes from 1962 to 2006 in the Kanchenjunga–Sikkim area, eastern Himalaya

This study investigates spatial patterns in glacier characteristics and area changes at decadal scales in the eastern Himalaya – Nepal (Arun and Tamor basins), India (Teesta basin in Sikkim) and parts of China and Bhutan – based on various satellite imagery: Corona KH4 imagery , Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Radiometer (ASTER), QuickBird (QB) and WorldView-2 (WV2). We compare and contrast glacier surface area changes over the period of 1962–2000/2006 and their dependency on glacier topography (elevation, slope, aspect, percent debris cover) and climate (solar radiation, precipitation) on the eastern side of the topographic barrier (Sikkim) versus the western side (Nepal). Glacier mapping from 2000 Landsat ASTER yielded 1463 ± 88 km 2 total glacierized area, of which 569 ± 34 km 2 was located in Sikkim and 488 ± 29 km 2 in eastern Nepal. Supraglacial debris covered 11 % of the total glacierized area, and supraglacial lakes covered about 5.8 % of the debris-covered glacier area alone. Glacier area loss (1962 to 2000) was 0.50 ± 0.2 % yr −1 , with little difference between Nepal (0.53 ± 0.2 % yr −1) and Sikkim (0.44 ± 0.2 % yr −1). Glacier area change was controlled mostly by glacier area, elevation, altitudinal range and, to a smaller extent, slope and aspect. In the Kanchenjunga–Sikkim area, we estimated a glacier area loss of 0.23 ± 0.08 % yr −1 from 1962 to 2006 based on high-resolution imagery. On a glacier-by-glacier basis, clean glaciers exhibit more area loss on average from 1962 to 2006 (34 %) compared to debris-covered glaciers (22 %). Glaciers in this region of the Himalaya are shrinking at similar rates to those reported for the last decades in other parts of the Himalaya, but individual glacier rates of change vary across the study area with respect to local topography, percent debris cover or glacier elevations.
Incipient Equipment Failure Assessment and Avoidance through Robust Detection Technqiue

The key contributor to normal power grid operations are optimal working of the various power grid equipment/apparatus. Non-optimal operation of any of these equipment causes power quality problems which can pose great risk to the stability of the grid. A damaged or partially damaged equipment leaves characteristic signatures in the form of current and voltage waveform distortions. Detecting and localizing such signal distortions would contribute to grid reliability as the damaged equipment could be replaced in time before it can cause further damage. This paper proposes a Distortion Detection Technique (DDT) based on second-difference approach. This distortion detection technique has very low memory requirements and can be easily implemented on decentralized systems. The paper investigates the performance of this technique and evaluates it with case studies involving different kind of equipment failures simulated on Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS).
Functional Traits

Functional traits are morphological, biochemical, physiological, structural, phenological or behavioural characteristics of organisms that influence performance or fitness. Grouping species by functional characteristics is a long-standing idea, but there has more recently been rapid development in the application of trait-based approaches to diverse topics in ecology. Two common applications of functional traits are to characterise community responses to changes in the environment, including community assembly processes, and to quantify the influence of community shifts on ecosystem processes. Practical decisions include: What types of traits should be considered? How can traits be measured or inferred? Are traits correlated or traded-off? Which, and how many, traits should be assessed? How should trait data be analysed? Functional trait approaches enhance ecological understanding by focusing on the mechanisms that govern interactions between organisms and their environments. Measuring and understanding traits increases our understanding of ecological processes, thus also informing conservation and restoration.
Plumage variation in the saltmarsh sparrow

The purpose of this study was to investigate the proposed idea that certain traits of the saltmarsh sparrow change in appearance over the course of a season. This study also investigated whether such changed differed between sexes. I hypothesized that such changes would prove evident, both over time and between sexes. For this study, saltmarsh sparrows (Ammodramus caudacutus) were captured across five sites in Connecticut during the 2011 and 2012 breeding seasons. The saltmarsh sparrows were captured, had their plumage traits scored according to a protocol developed by Shriver et al. (2005), photographed, and released. I conducted scoring based on photographs viewed on computer in a lab setting, in an attempt to see if there were any significant trends in how the sparrows’ plumage varied over time or between sexes. Poisson regressions and paired t-tests were used to investigate these hypothesized trends in plumage variation. There ultimately appeared to be no evidence to indicate such patterns, although one analysis suggested that crown definition may increase over the course of a season. I also hypothesized that the scores of some traits would correlate highly with the scores of others, which could allow a simplification of the scoring protocol in which fewer traits need to be scored without any substantial information about the bird being lost. However, no traits correlated with each other to a particularly high degree.
Measurement of Jet Multiplicity Distributions in Top Quark Pair Events with Two Leptons in the Final State at a center of mass energy of 7 TeV.

The jet activity in top-antitop quark pair events is measured in pp collisions at √s =7 TeV with the CMS detector using a dataset recorded in 2011 corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb−1 . The measurement is performed in the dileptonic decay channels (where the two W bosons decay to leptons) of the top-antitop quark pairs, with at least two isolated leptons and at least one b-jet in the final state. The differential top anti-top quark cross section is measured as a function of the jet multiplicity. Furthermore, the distribution of the fraction of events without additional jets above a momentum threshold is measured. Several QCD calculations are compared with the data.
INVARIANTS OF TORIC SEIBERG DUALITY

Three-branes at a given toric Calabi–Yau singularity lead to different phases of the conformal field theory related by toric (Seiberg) duality. Using the dimer model/brane tiling description in terms of bipartite graphs on a torus, we find a new invariant under Seiberg duality, namely the Klein j-invariant of the complex structure parameter in the distinguished isoradial embedding of the dimer, determined by the physical R-charges. Additional number theoretic invariants are described in terms of the algebraic number field of the R-charges. We also give a new compact description of the a-maximization procedure by introducing a generalized incidence matrix.
AUDIAS-CEU: A Language-independent approach for the Query-by-Example Spoken Term Detection task of the Search on Speech ALBAYZIN 2018 evaluation

Query-by-Example Spoken Term Detection is the task of detecting query occurrences within speech data (henceforth utterances). Our submission is based on a language-independent template matching approach. First, queries and utterances are represented as phonetic posteriorgrams computed for English language with the phoneme decoder developed by the Brno University of Technology. Next, the Subsequence Dynamic Time Warping algorithm with a modiﬁed Pearson correlation coef-ﬁcient as cost measure is employed to hipothesize detections. Results on development data showed an ATWV=0.1774 with MAVIR data and an ATWV=0.0365 with RTVE data.
An audio file tagging mobile game, mTagATune

mTagATune(1) is a mobile game based on TagATune(2). mTagATune implements the concept of GWAP(3) and seizes the capabilities and wide acceptance of current smartphones(4). GWAP promotes the creation of computer games that encourage people to do voluntary work. mTagATune implements a game that collects information on audio files to facilitate future searches on them. By means of a collaborative game, mTagATune enables an ubiquitous collection of information on audio files that can later be used in search results.
Behavioural changes of a long-ranging diver in response to oceanographic conditions

The development of an animal-borne instrument that can record oceanographic measurements (CTD-SRDL) has enabled the collection of oceanographic data at a scale relevant to the counterpart behavioural data, both in time and 3-dimensional space. This has advanced the potential for studies of the behaviour of deep-diving marine animals and the way in which they respond to their environment, yet the nature of the data delivered by CTD-SRDLs presents substantial analytical challenges and places constraints on its biological interpretation. Behavioural and environmental data, collected using CTD-SRDLs deployed on southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) from the South Georgia subpopulation in 2004 and 2005, are analysed for 13 females and 4 males (21,015 dives). Compressed dive profiles are used to classify individual dives into six distinct types based on their 2-dimensional time-depth characteristics using random forest classification. The relationship between dive type and environmental variables, derived from oceanographic data recorded on board the animals, is investigated in the context of regression analysis, employing a multinomial model, as well as independently fitted Generalized Linear Models (GLM) and Generalized Additive Models (GAM) for each dive type. Regression is not found to be an appropriate method for analysing abstracted behavioural dive data, and other methods are suggested. We show that functional specializations can be manifested within a dive type, using square bottom dives (SQ) as an example. The usefulness of dive classification is discussed in the context of behavioural interpretation, and validity of the ecological functions attached to each class. Preliminary analyses are important drivers of further research into improving the interpretability of abstracted behavioural data, and developing efficient, standardized methods for widespread application to this type of data, which is obtained in abundance via satellite telemetry.
Effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper on Nerve Conductance: An experimental Study on the Rat Sciatic Nerve

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of AnkaferdBloodStopper® (ABS) on nerve conductance. ABS consists of traditional haemostatic ingredients, and has been officially approved for topical use in the management of external hemorrhage and dental surgical procedures. The basic mechanism of action for ABS is the formation of an encapsulated protein network that provides focal points for vital erythrocyte aggregation. Total of 6 albino rats were used for nerve conduction experiments. Isolated rat sciatic nerves were placed in two suction electrodes in a pyrex bath containing a tyrode solution. Concentration-dependent evoked compound action potentials (cAP) of the nerves were recorded for 60 minutes within the ABS solution. The readings were conducted for 60 more minutes after washing the nerves. A significant reduction cAP voltage in 1000 µl test groups was recorded. The pairwise comparisons showed that the only significant differences were between 1000 µL and the rest of the solutions, but this effect was totally reversible after washing with tyrode solution at 120 min readings. No significant difference exists among groups for any other parameters. Observation of recovery of the cAPs on washed specimens, demonstrating that ABS has a reversible adverse effect on nerve conductance irrespective of the concentration applied.
Antenatal anxiety in the first trimester: Risk factors and effects on anxiety and depression in the third trimester and 6-week postpartum

Objective: Anxiety is common among pregnant women. However, research attention in the area of reproductive mental health has mainly focused on postpartum depression in past decades. Given adverse outcomes of antenatal anxiety, there is an urgent need to fill the research gaps. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of antenatal anxiety symptoms and examine the risk factors and effects of anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy on anxiety and depressive symptoms in later pregnancy and early postpartum period. Methodology: A prospective longitudinal design with quantitative approach was adopted. A consecutive sample of 1470 Chinese pregnant women from hospitals in Hong Kong was invited to participate in the study and was assessed using standardized instruments on 3 time points including first and third trimesters of pregnancy and 6-week postpartum. Results: The results showed that 17.7% of pregnant women manifested anxiety symptoms in the first trimester of pregnancy. Single mothers, younger mothers, mothers who smoked before pregnancy and mothers who received low education level reported significantly higher levels of anxiety symptoms in the first trimester. Unwanted pregnancy, low self esteem, low marital satisfaction and perceived low social support were significant psychosocial risk factors for anxiety symptoms in the first trimester. Anxiety symptoms in the first trimester were independent predictors for anxiety symptoms in the third trimester (β = 0.26, t = 5.74, p < 0.001), however anxiety symptoms in the first trimester no longer significantly predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms in 6 weeks postpartum after adjusting for the effects of potential confounders. Discussions: The present study points to the need for greater research and clinical attention to antenatal anxiety given that antenatal anxiety is a prevalent problem and has serious impacts on maternal wellbeing. Such findings also contribute to the understanding of maternal anxiety and have implications for the design of effective identification, prevention and treatment of these significant clinical problems
The Lethal Water Tri-Therapy: Chlorine, Alum, and Polyelectrolyte

There is no doubt that the chemical water treatment has resolved the problem of drinking water supply for several decades to humankind especially in terms of pathogen microorganisms and turbidity removal. However, due to chemicals used through this treatment and increasing quantities of pollutants discharged into nature, numerous health problems have been largely more and more proved and reported. This review discusses the toxicity of chlorine, alum, and polyelectrolyte which are widely employed through the world. The main addressed question here is: When the true and radical water treatment technology will be really and definitely applied? There is no water treatment technique but only distillation process which is successfully applied at the largest scale in nature by God. At least, physical processes such as membrane processes should be more and more applied through water treatment plants for reducing chemicals use. Most of chlorination disadvantages may be avoided through a better understanding of the mutual actions conducting to the generation of chlorine by-products and the use of more sophisticated procedures to assess toxicity capacity of such chemicals. Finally, this study arrives at its time since the Environmental Engineers and the Green Chemistry specialists have largely opened the discussion about polluting industry and preserving nature. Returning Man to its initial and noble Mission on Earth is reflected through this research to preserve both humankind and nature.
GPU-based Parallelization of a Sub-pixel High-resolution Stereo Matching Algorithm for High-throughput Biomass Sorghum Phenotyping

Abstract. To automate high-throughput phenotyping for infield biomass sorghum morphological traits characterization, a capable 3D vision system that can overcome challenges imposed by field conditions including variable lighting, strong wind and extreme plant height is needed. Among all available 3D sensors, traditional stereo cameras offer a viable solution to obtaining high-resolution 3D point-cloud data with the use of high-accuracy (sub-pixel) stereo matching algorithms, which, however, are inevitably highly computational. This paper reports a GPU-based parallelized implementation of the PatchMatch Stereo algorithm which reconstructs highly slanted leaf and stalk surfaces of sorghum at high speed from high-resolution stereo image pairs. Our algorithm enhanced accuracy and smoothness by using L2 norm for color distance calculation instead of L1 norm and speeded up convergence by testing the plane of the lowest cost within a local window in addition to the original spatial propagation. To better handle textureless regions, after left-right consistency check, the disparity of an occluded pixel is assigned to that of a nearby non-occluded pixel with the most similar pattern. Some of these occluded pixels in textureless region would survive a following left-right consistency check. Therefore more valid pixels would exist in textureless regions for occlusion filling. Accuracy and performance were evaluated on Middlebury datasets as well as our sorghum datasets. It achieved a high ranking in Middlebury table of subpixel precision and revealed subtle details on leaf and stalk surfaces. The output disparity maps were used to estimate stalk diameters of different varieties and growth stages. The results showed high correlation to hand measurement.
Predicting Global Solar Radiation using Genetic Algorithm (GA)

Many studies are performed by researchers to predict global solar radiation (GSR) but the Genetic Algorithm (GA) has never been used for such a study. In this study, GA technique is applied to estimate monthly average daily global solar radiation (GSR) on horizontal surface of central arid deserts of Iran. To achieve this, 10 sunshine-based models were developed and the empirical coefficients for all models were separately determined using GA technique. Eventually, the obtained results of GA technique were compared with the obtained results of statistical regression techniques (SRTs). The results indicate that obtained empirical coefficients for all 10 models based on GA have more accuracy than SRTs.
On factorization of a differential operator arising in fluid dynamics

Spectral properties of linear operators are very important in stability analysis of dynamical systems. The paper studies the non-selfadjoint second order differential operator that originated from a steady state stability problem in dynamic of viscous Newtonian fluid on the inner surface of horizontally rotating cylinder in the presence of gravitational field. The linearization of the thin liquid film flow in the lubrication limit about the uniform coating steady state results into the operator which domain couples two subspaces spanned by positive and negative Fourier exponents which are not invariant subspaces of the operator. We prove that the operator admits factorization and use this new representation of the operator to prove compactness of its resolvent and to find its domain.
Using multitable techniques for assessing Phytoplankton Structure and Succession in the Reservoir Marne (Seine Catchment Area, France)

Micro-organisms, especially phytoplankton species, may be considered as potential indicators of local and more global changes in aquatic ecosystems and may thus constitute an excellent biomarker of water quality. Multitable analyses, such as partial triadic analysis and multiple coinertia analysis, are a well suited statistical tool to get a clear representation of the spatial and temporal organization of the assemblages of these different species and hence assess for the existence of changes in water quality. Handling of the few missing data was done using the NIPALS algorithm.
OFR 911 Detection of an Abandoned Mine Using High-Resolution Geophysical Methods in Randolph Township , Morris County

This investigation reports the applicability of five geophysical methods to locate potentially hazardous, nearsurface workings at the abandoned Lawrence Iron Mine in Randolph Township, Morris County, northcentral New Jersey. The mineral deposit consists of magnetite veins in an amphibolite host rock surrounded by a microantiperthite granite or a diorite. The veins are as much as 2.5 feet thick. Workings extend to about 110 feet deep. This investigation was designed to detect openings within a few tens of feet of the surface. Geophysical methods used to detect mine workings and the remnants of the mineral deposit were magnetic, electromagnetic, resistivity-induced polarization profiling, microgravity, and seismic reflection. Each technique was carried out along two traverses at right angles to the strike of the magnetite mineral deposit. Data were collected at 5-foot station intervals. The magnetic, electromagnetic and induced polarization methods successfully detected the mineral deposit and may also have resolved a near-surfac;e mine working. Resistivity profiling in the gradient array delineated what was either a near-surface mine working or a fracture zone. Microgravity and seismic reflection data show anomalies attributable to mine workings and a fracture zone. An integrated interpretation using two or more geophysical techniques provided the best results in resolving abandoned mines. The location of the mine working was subsequently confirmed by trenching.
REVIEW ARTICLE: APPLICATION OF ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY IN BLADDER CANCER SCREENING

Introduction Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy in elderly people and most bladder cancers are transitional cell carcinomas (TCC). Bladder pathology is usually investigated visually by cystoscopy and this technique can represent different conditions ranging from simple inflammation to flat CIS. However, biopsies must be taken from the suspected area to obtain diagnostic information. This is a relatively high cost procedure in terms of both time and money and is associated with discomfort for the patient and increased morbidity. Materials and Methods Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), a minimally invasive screening technique, can be used to separate malignant areas from non-malignant areas in the urinary bladder. The feasibility of adapting this technique to screen bladder cancer, and abnormalities during cystoscopy has been explored and compared with histopathological evaluation of urinary bladder lesions. Both ex vivo and in vivo studies were carried out in this study. Results The impedance data were evaluated in both malignant and benign groups and a significant difference between these two groups was revealed. In all measurements, the impedivity of malignant bladder tissue was significantly higher than the benign tissue, especially at lower frequencies (p<0.001) Conclusion This technique can be a complimentary method for cystoscopy, biopsy, and histopathological evaluation of the bladder abnormalities.