Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of manual and automatic barcode detection in rough horticultural production systems

Automation of production in the nurseries of flower producing companies using barcode scanners have been attempted but with little success. Stationary laser barcode scanners which have been used for automation have failed due to the close proximity between the barcode and the scanner, and factors such as speed, angle of inclination of the barcode, damage to the barcode and dirt on the barcode. Furthermore, laser barcode scanners are still being used manually in the nurseries making work laborious and time consuming, thereby leading to reduced productivity. Therefore, an automated image-based barcode detection system to help solve the aforementioned problems was proposed. Experiments were conducted under different situations with clean and artificially soiled Code 128 barcodes in both the laboratory and under real production conditions in a flower producing company. The images were analyzed with a specific algorithm developed with the software tool Halcon. Overall the results from the company showed that the image-based system has a future prospect for automation in the nursery. Keywords: automation, barcode detection, horticultural production systems, image processing, barcode scanners DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe. 20191206.4762 Citation: Eyahanyo F, Rath T. Comparison of manual and automatic barcode detection in rough horticultural production systems. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2019; 12(6): 169–176.
Benefits of Physical Activity for Children with Chronic Health Conditions

MICHAELS, RONDA DEE. Benefits of Physical Activity for Children with Chronic Health Conditions. (Under the direction of Dr. Judy Peel). It has long been proven that adults experience many benefits from regular physical activity, exercise and/or sport. Over the last ten years there has been an increase in research regarding the specific physical and psychosocial benefits of physical activity in adults and children. However, few research studies have examined both the physical and psychosocial benefits of an ongoing structured physical activity program for children with a chronic health condition. Chronic health conditions including various cancers, congenital heart disease, lupus, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, renal disease, asthma, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, visual and auditory impairments, learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and mental retardation affect approximately 10-20% of children aged 4-17 (Lanphear, Liptak & Weitzman, 1995; Cooper et al., 1999). There are approximately 45,000 children with a chronic health condition in North Carolina alone (Benedict, Farel & Howell, 1999). Because of the proven importance of physical activity and the increasing numbers of children with chronic health conditions, it is important to explore the physical and psychosocial benefits of physical activity for these children. The purpose of this study was to determine if children with chronic health conditions, specifically those with a brain tumor, cancer and/or leukemia participating in Hoop Dreams Basketball Academy would score higher in physical self efficacy and the health-related physical fitness components than children with cancer that do not participate in Hoop Dreams Basketball Academy. The Physical Self-Efficacy Scale (Ryckman et al., 1982) and The Brockport Physical Fitness Test (Winnick & Short, 1999) were used to investigate the physical self-efficacy and health-related physical fitness of a sample of children with cancer that were involved in Hoop Dreams Basketball Academy compared to a sample of children with cancer that did not participate in the physical activity programs provided by Hoop Dreams Basketball Academy. A t-test for Equality of Means was used to test the significance of the relationships between the control group and the experimental group. No statistically significant difference in the means of physical self-efficacy or the various health-related fitness components were found. The small sample size made it difficult to conduct an in-depth statistical analysis. BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS by RONDA DEE MICHAELS A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science PARKS, RECREATION, AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT
Multi-Year PEAD: Predictive and Feedback Insights

The post-earnings announcement drift (PEAD) is described as a long-standing anomaly to the efficient market hypothesis and has been ascribed to the incomplete incorporation of the information in earnings announcements by the market. Interestingly, over the past five decades of extensive research, no cause has been identified definitively. Our primary contribution is that a multi-year examination of the cumulative abnormal return (CAR) over time that incorporates the good/bad news observed at the end of each period shows that the PEAD is not exclusively due to a delayed reaction to earnings announcements, i.e. market inefficiency. Our analysis shows that tests for delayed reaction to earnings announcements should employ a multi-period approach. Consistent with prior papers, we find a noticeable decrease in the PEAD over the decades. Using this same multi-year context, we also examine the feedback role of accounting and find that accounting information does a good job of reflecting economic events. More specifically, the mapping of stock returns into earnings is consistent with accounting conservatism, the mean reversion of accounting accruals, and earnings management. Our results are consistent for three samples covering the period 1973 to 2016.
English vocabulary in L1 Danish and L1 Finnish learners: Vocabulary sizes, word frequency effect, and cognate facilitation

The study presents vocabulary sizes in native (L1) Danish and L1 Finnish learners of English differing in second language (L2) immersion. The estimated vocabulary sizes suggest that some L2 learners have vocabulary sizes within the L1 English range, and that all participants should be lexically equipped to understand spoken English. The article moreover examines the effect of word frequency and cognateness on L2 lexical knowledge and how these two effects are mediated by L2 immersion. Word frequency was found to signiﬁcantly affect word deﬁnition. Contrary to the prediction, this effect was larger for L1 English speakers than for L2 learners and for immersion learners than for non-immersion learners. Signiﬁcant cognate facilitation was also observed and was found to be larger for non-immersion learners than for immersion learners, as predicted.
Edible insect protein for food applications: Extraction, composition, and functional properties

This study sought to establish an optimized procedure for extraction of protein from microwave‐dried larvae of an edible insect, Hermetia illucens (HIL), and to determine and compare the amino acid (AA) component, intrinsic fluorescence (IF), and physicochemical/functional properties (PFPs) of protein isolates. Box–Behnken's design with the Box–Wilson methodology was applied in the optimization process. Following single‐factor investigations, the relational analysis indicated that the polynomial model could be used to illustrate the influence of extraction parameters on protein yield. Response–surface plots showed that extraction variables influenced (p < .05) protein yield of HIL. The optimized extraction (optimized protocol [OP]) conditions with highest yield (64.44%) were time—59.43 min, alkaline solution to sample ratio—24.85:1.00, and temperature—52.23°C. The protein extract obtained using the OP, compared with a modified protocol (MP) (with conditions: 60 min, 15:1 alkaline solution to sample ratio, and 40°C) showed content of 80.42 ± 0.90% and 76.91 ± 0.91%, respectively (p < .05). The AA‐scores were above that recommended by FAO. Variations existed between OP and MP extracts regarding PFPs, consistent with IF/AA‐values. The optimized extraction process was feasible, and the functional properties of HIL protein could be enhanced/modified for different food formulations. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Hermetia illucens (HIL), an edible insect rich in protein, is one most promising insect species for food applications with extra benefits to the environment. Consumption, however, is limited by many due to association of insects to vermin/dirt. The need to increase consumption globally is paramount, as there is high demand on the already scarce protein sources available worldwide. Extracting the constituents of edible insects for novel/food applications is a promising approach to upturn global consumption in the next 2–3 decades where humans may rely on insect protein. The success of scale‐up processing in this regard depends on process conditions for better yields. Therefore, determining an optimized technique for extraction of protein from HIL larvae was investigated as well as physicochemical/technofunctional properties, and fluorescence attribute. The extraction approach was feasible and the outcome of the study may benefit industry in extraction and/or modification of edible insect protein in novel applications.
The influence of Kyokushinkai Karate classes on the adaptive capabilities of adolescents

The purpose of the work: to determine the impact of Kyokushinkai Karate classes on the ability to adapt to different physical activities of boys of 10-12 years of age during classes. Material and methods. 78 boys of 10-12 years were surveyed, 27 of them expressed their desire to participate in the sports section of Kyokushinkai Karate (EG). CG (29) includes guys who do not have contraindications for playing sports. The essence of the forming experiment was to compare the growth rates of individual indicators of physical qualities, functional preparedness of children who attended the Kyokushinkai Karate training program (experimental group EG) with children who were engaged in physical education only during physical culture lessons (control group CG). During the year a monitoring examination of children is carried out to assess physical development, adaptation to exercise, adaptive potential of the circulatory system, the functional state of the apparatus of external respiration, the energy potential of the organism, physical fitness and methods of mathematical statistics. Results. The plan of preparation of training groups on the basis of rational sequence of use of a set and volume of means and methods of physical education of normative part of the сurriculum "Kyokushinkai Karate" is presented. Adaptation processes occurring in the body of boys, during the acquisition of knowledge and skills within the walls of the school are determined by a number of educational, behavioral, everyday and other factors, each of which has a specific purposefulness to achieve a useful end result of learning. The course of study at school is undoubtedly accompanied by the adaptation of children to the new mode of study, rest, psychological and physical activity, and the question of the dynamics of indicators of functional systems of the child's organism came to the plane of our research. Conclusion. In the course of the research, we came to the conclusion that the plan developed and implemented in the sports circles improves the adaptation capabilities of the boys of this age group during Kyokoshinkai karate classes.
Foreign Direct Investment Determinants in Oil Exporting Countries: Revisiting the Role of Natural Resources

This article explores the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in oil-dependent economies and revisits the role of natural resources in attracting FDI to countries of this kind. Panel data from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have been employed, covering the period from 1990 to 2015. First, we investigate the FDI determinants during the entire sample period, and then run another investigation starting from the beginning of 2000, when the FDI in the GCC region increased substantially. The results show that there is a positive nexus between market growth, trade openness, inflation, infrastructure, oil price and FDI. Interestingly, oil reserves have a negative impact on FDI; this may be because countries with large reserves of oil like the GCC countries have enough financial resources to finance their economic development. This leads these governments to set up restrictions to protect their resources, thus reducing the amount of resource-seeking FDI. JEL Codes: E22, F21, F23, F43, O13
The Elephant in the Room: The Nascent Research Agenda on Corporations, Social Responsibility, and Capitalism

Sometimes it is helpful to stop and remind ourselves of the context in which a field of study started, and to sense-check on where it is going in relation to that starting place. The role of business in society has attracted considerable research interest over the past decades. Next to themes such as sustainability, social entrepreneurship, multistakeholder initiatives, and business ethics, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a prominent domain in it its own right within management and organizational research. It is our intention in this special issue to kick start the reconsideration of the socioeconomic context of CSR’s starting place, broadly speaking capitalism, and to develop a more nuanced understanding of CSR in the contemporary neoliberal political economy. CSR as a modern management practice emerged in the United States as a strategic response to the New Deal and its wide reaching impact on the laissez faire approach to capitalism which had previously led to the economic crisis
Ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement Strategy Using Pharmacological Stress with Intravenous Dipyridamole and Pharmacist Intervention to Reduce Suboptimal Exercise Myocardial Perfusion Scans

Exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) testing in conjunction with radionuclide imaging provides prognostic, diagnostic, and important physiological information regarding the presence of ischemia. However, many patients cannot or will not exercise to 85% of maximal heart rate. When this occurs, potential disparities in regional myocardial perfusion may not be apparent. Pharmacological stress testing with intravenous (IV) dipyridamole provides an alternative method of increasing intracoronary blood flow in these patients and decreasing the incidence of suboptimal exercise myocardial perfusion scans. An ongoing program was begun in 1992 to determine the effect of using pharmacological stress testing with IV dipyridamole (in selected patients) on the incidence of suboptimal exercise myocardial perfusion scans. Myocardial perfusion scans from the months of February 1991 and February 1992 were reviewed. Data collected included demographic variables, heart rate, percent of maximum predicted heart rate, anti-anginal drug therapy, and any underlying conditions that could influence the patient's ability to exercise adequately. There was only a slight reduction in inadequate exercise tests between the two study periods, 30% in February 1991 and 23% in February 1992, without pharmacist intervention. There was an increase in the number of dipyridamole perfusion scans, one (<1%) in February 1991 and 10 (6%) in February 1992. These data were presented to physicians as part of an educational program on the availability and appropriate use of pharmacological stress testing with IV dipyridamole. Several suggestions were made to assist in decreasing the incidence of suboptimal exercise myocardial perfusion scans. The review was repeated in February 1993. There was a further increase in the number of dipyridamole perfusion scans (18, or 11% over previous levels); however, the rate of suboptimal exercise tests remained at 24%. This review offered an easy and unique opportunity for the pharmacy to be involved in multidisciplinary continuous quality improvement with nuclear medicine and cardiology. It is anticipated that with continued education and a change in patient screening procedures, along with the development and use of drug use guidelines, a decrease in the number of suboptimal exercise myocardial perfusion scans may be realized.
Investigation of the controlling rock petrophysical factors on water phase trapping damage in tight gas reservoirs

This paper presents an investigation into the effect of rock physical parameters on water phase trapping (WPT) damage in tight gas reservoirs. The investigation involved water imbibition and drainage experiments that were performed to simulate the WPT formation process. Gas permeability was measured before and after WPT, and an empirical formula was used to determine water film thickness in order to examine the influence of WPT on effective gas flow channel. Results showed that the average water saturation of 15 tight core samples increased from 19.41% to 44.76% during water imbibition and declined to 38.72% after drainage. Increments in water saturation caused a degree of damage to gas permeability in the 36.03%‐78.10% range with an average value of 59.31%. Comparative analysis showed that the dominant factors affecting WPT were average pore throat radius followed by rock permeability and porosity. Meanwhile, calculations showed that water film thickness in the 21.22‐38.18 nm range correlated to a reduced effective gas flow channel of 20.20‐45.15 nm caused by WPT, which suggests that tight rocks with smaller pore throats may be particularly sensitive to WPT damage. The relative size of the water film filling the pore throat, trapping gas, and reducing the effective gas flow channel together with the size of the pore throat itself were found to be the most common damage mechanisms of WPT and have proven to be fundamentally beneficial in understanding the controlling factors of these damage mechanisms.
Deep learning architecture for direct probability density prediction of small‐scale solar generation

With the increasing penetration of photovoltaic (PV) systems, the problems posed by the inherent intermittency of small-scale PVs are becoming more severe. To address this issue, it is critical to involve the uncertainty of PV generation in the look-ahead periods in a comprehensive framework. To this end, a direct deep learning architecture for probabilistic forecasting of solar generation is proposed in this paper. An end-to-end deep learning architecture as a novel mixture density network (MDN) is designed based on the combination of a convolutional neural network and a gated recurrent unit. Furthermore, a new loss function and training process based on adversarial training is proposed to enhance the accuracy in direct contracting of the probability density function. Then, several deep and shallow networks are implemented, and the results are compared with the proposed architecture. The effectiveness of the proposed MDN in providing complete statistical information is verified through comparison with Monte Carlo dropout, non-parametric kernel density estimation, and the proposed MDN without adversarial training.
How Tropical Convection Couples High Moist Static Energy Over Land and Ocean

We show that in the tropics, tropical atmospheric dynamics force the subcloud moist static energy (MSE) over land and ocean to be very similar in, and only in, regions of deep convection. Using observed rainfall as a proxy for convection and reanalysis data to calculate MSE, we show that subcloud MSE in the nonconvective regions may differ substantially between land and ocean but is uniform across latitudes in convective regions even on a daily timescale. This result holds also in CMIP5 model simulations of past cold and future warm climates. Furthermore, the distribution of rainfall amount in subcloud MSE is very similar over land and ocean with the peak at 343 J/g and a half width at half maximum of 3 J/g. Our results demonstrate that the horizontally uniform free tropospheric temperature forces the highest subcloud MSE values to be similar over land and ocean.
Unraveling the Molecular and Cellular Complexities of the Kidney in Health and Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects over 500 million people worldwide, and despite this significant disease burden, therapeutic innovation in nephrology has lagged. This trend is partly attributed both to an incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms of kidney dysfunction and a lack of appropriate in vitro and in vivo models, a reflection of the multifactorial nature CKD and the complex cellular complexity of the kidney. Genetically defined rare diseases can provide insight into disease pathogenesis. We thus, sought to understand the mechanism underlying a rare Coenzyme Q (CoQ)-deficiencyassociated podocytopathy. Podocytes are a terminally differentiated, post-mitotic cell type, essential for kidney filter function. An in vitro podocyte model of CoQ deficiency revealed a susceptibility to ROS-mediated injury and a perturbation in polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism. Single nucleus sequencing from the kidneys of CoQ-deficient mice validated podocyte-specific transcriptomic changes consistent with in vitro findings and revealed a novel, disease-specific parietal epithelial cell population. Our analysis further revealed the BRAF-targeting GDC-0879 as a putative therapeutic strategy. Kidney organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are an emerging technology with the potential to both recapitulate the cellular diversity of the kidney and to further our understanding of disease. However, this progress is dependent on understanding the reproducibility and quality of organoids derived from multiple patients-donors. Thus, we generated a 412,358 single cell census of 47 organoid and iPSC samples derived from four cell lines across four time points of differentiation. All cell lines contained representative segments of the developing nephron, but varied in their proportions of cell types and in the presence of offiv target populations. Comparison to single cell fetal kidney data revealed that the organoids were most similar to first trimester fetal kidney. While long-term in vitro culture did not affect organoid composition, in vivo transplantation of organoids resulted in reduced off-target populations.