Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detecting and Searching for subglacial lakes through airborne radio-echo sounding in Princess Elizabeth Land (PEL), Antarctica

Over 400 subglacial lakes were discovered in Antarctica through radio-echo sounding (RES) method and remote sensing. Subglacial lakes have significance in lubricating ice-bedrock interface and enhancing ice flow. Moreover, ancient lives may exist in the extreme environment. Since 2015, the “Snow Eagle 601” BT-67 airborne platform has been deployed and applied to map ice sheet and bedrock of Princess Elizabeth Land. One of great motivations of airborne surveys is to detect and search for subglacial lakes in the region. In this paper, we provided preliminary results of RES over both old and new discovered lakes, including Lake Vostok, a potential second large subglacial lake and other lakes beneath interior of the ice sheet in Antarctica.
Indoor Point Cloud Segmentation Using Iterative Gaussian Mapping and Improved Model Fitting

Indoor scene segmentation based on 3-D laser point cloud is important for rebuilding and classification, especially for permanent building structure. However, the existing segmentation methods mainly focus on the large-scale planar structures but ignore the other sharp structures and details, which would cause accuracy degradation in scene reconstruction. To handle this issue, an iterative Gaussian mapping-based segmentation strategy has been proposed in this article, which goes from rough segmentation to refined one iteratively to decompose the indoor scene into detectable point cloud clusters layer by layer. An improved model fitting algorithm based on the maximum likelihood estimation sampling consensus (MLESAC) algorithm is proposed for refined segmentation, which is called the Prior-MLESAC algorithm, to deal with the extraction of both vertical and nonvertical planar and cylindrical structures. The experimental results demonstrate that planar and cylindrical structures are segmented more completely by the proposed strategy, and more details of the indoor structure are restored than other existing methods.
Water soluble carbon nanotubes increase agricultural yields

The introduction of nanotechnology-based applications in agriculture is important to tackle the difficulties faced by agriculture and food sector across the globe. Nanomaterials facilitate controlled delivery of nutrients with increased crop protection. Due to their direct and indirect applications, nanomaterials can support the development of high-tech agricultural farms. This is exactly what is needed to maximize agricultural output by improvement of the ability of plants to absorb nutrients from the soil.
Sea ice diatoms from Manitounuk Sound, southeastern Hudson Bay (Quebec, Canada). III. Cymbellaceae, Entomoneidaceae, Gomphonemataceae, and Nitzschiaceae

Four families of diatoms, well represented in the ice microflora of Manitounuk Sound, Hudson Bay, are treated. The Entomoneidaceae (Entomoneis, 6 taxa; Plagiotropis, 2 taxa) and the Nitzschiaceae (Nitzschia, 12 taxa) have more representatives than the Cymbellaceae (Amphora, 1 taxon) and the Gomphonemataceae (Gomphonema, 2 taxa). Taxonomic information is given for these 23 taxa by means of complete illustrated descriptions. One species and one variety are described as new in the genus Nitzschia, and new nomenclatural combinations are proposed for the six taxa of Entomoneis and the two of Plagiotropis.
Arrenoseius wainstein and Metaseiulus muma: Two new records for the european phytoseiid mite fauna (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract Arrenoseius morgani (Chant) and Metaseiulus pomi (Parrott) are reported for the first time from Europe. They were collected from apple trees in France and The Netherlands, respectively. The two species are redescribed, illustrated and compared with the data of type material.
Is shadow education the driver of East Asia’s high performance on comparative learning assessments?

East Asian students consistently top comparative assessments of academic achievement. Yet, rather than attempting to develop more sophisticated understandings of this difference, the most common reaction is to attribute East Asian performance to longer study hours and/or the attendance at schools focused on academic skill enhancement and test preparation (i.e., juku). Herein we seek to contribute to a richer debate both by presenting new data and findings in relation to Japan, and by highlighting new analytical strategies to understand the relationship between East Asian performance and shadow education. Specifically, we highlight that comparatively high levels of achievement among Japanese students were apparent even at the level of fourth graders, even though juku attendance was low prior to this stage. This suggests that juku attendance is not the primary factor for the high academic achievement of Japanese students. The wider significance of these findings lies in countering both common portrayals of East Asian success and factually inaccurate information disseminated by organizations such as the OECD. In so doing, researchers are in better position to elaborate new, more sophisticated theories that explain East Asia’s consistently world- leading academic achievement.
The breeding biology of the Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus

The breeding biology of the Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, a vulnerable bird species in the Palaearctic, has been studied for 7 years at Lake Mikri Prespa, a continental wetland and Tsoukalio lagoon, a coastal wetland within the Amvrakikos Gulf. The two colonies showed stability, with fluctuations in the number of breeding attempts each year varying by about 30% over a period of 7 years. The date of arrival at the breeding sites and the date of laying of the first egg varied between mid-February and mid-March. The egglaying period (including renesting) varied between 18 and 114 days between years. The annual average clutch size varied between 1.60 and 1.94 eggs per nest. The incubation period averaged 31.4 ± 1.4 days. The overall hatching success varied from 36% to 70%. Egg losses were mainly due to nest abandonment, infertile eggs and eggs rolled from the nests. The Dalmatian Pelican chicks took 11–12 weeks to fledge. Nestling mortality was very low in contrast to other species of pelican. Such a low nestling mortality explains why the breeding success each year is largely explained by the hatching success.
Deterministic and stochastic computations of mysterious internal flows: based on a nonlinear local correction method with global conservativity

The present paper shows a new approach for solving two types of fluid problems, which has recently emerged and has been an unsolved mysteriously for over 100 years. The first problem emerged recently is a very small amount of numerical errors comparable to pollutant emissions such as unburned hydrocarbon fuel (HC) and NOx at order of ppm or less. A new nonlinear numerical method of global and local corrections for the deterministic compressible Navier-Stokes equation for multi-components of gases is proposed and tested to overcome this first problem, while accurately evaluating fluid-dynamic instability related to turbulence and thermal efficiency as result of spatially-integrated thermodynamic quantities, related to total amount of CO2 exhausted, in power systems including combustion engines. It is stressed that the present nonlinear correction method applied for the stochastic Navier-Stokes equation is also effective for the second mysterious problem which has been unsolved for over 100 years, which is the spatial transition point from laminar to turbulent flows in pipes.
Direct Torque Control for Induction Motors Based on Minimum Voltage Vector Error

The traditional direct toque control (TDTC) for induction motors (IM) is afflicted by large torque ripple, high current total harmonic distortion (THD), and variable switching frequency. Recently, some improved direct torque control (DTC) methods have been proposed to address the above problems, but they often suffer from obscure concept, intensive computation, and poor robustness. To further improve the performance, this article proposes a DTC method based on minimum voltage vector (VV) error. The proposed strategy effectively optimizes the duty ratio of fundamental VV to minimize the error between reference VV and final VV imposed on motor terminals. The optimization algorithm dose not increase the system's complexity much and can be intuitively understood by a graphical interpretation. Experiment comparisons between the proposed strategy and some existing DTC methods are conducted on a 0.55-kW IM platform. The proposed DTC method has proven to achieve better steady-state performance, while retaining fast dynamic response of TDTC. Furthermore, the proposed method can obtain almost constant average switching frequency in the entire speed range, especially with rated load, due to the utilization of proportional-integral type torque regulator.
Effect of wheat sprout powder incorporation on lipid oxidation and physicochemical properties of beef patties

Summary The aim of this study was to determine the effects of incorporation of wheat sprout flours (WSF) on lipid oxidation and some quality characteristics of beef patties. Two wheat sprout flour samples (WSF1 and WSF2) were obtained by germination, drying and milling of two different wheat varieties. The beef patties were stored at +4 °C for 6 days or at −18 °C for 180 days and analysed for their proximate composition, pH, sensory properties, colour parameters and lipid oxidation. TBA formation in WSF-added patties was reduced approximately by as much as 20% when compared to that of the control at the 180th day of the storage, while favourable results were detectable in the storage period at +4 °C. Again, up to 4% WSF1 or WSF2 incorporation gave acceptable sensorial scores to the beef patties. As a conclusion, it was confirmed that WSF could be incorporated into beef patties to improve their quality parameters and retard lipid peroxidation.
PROGNOSTICATION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS IN INDIA USING ARIMA MODEL

Neediness is a significant issue India is confronting, which relies upon agribusiness as the principle monetary action. Various partners have included themselves in boosting rural profitability, Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were used for determining the domestic animals value with the information given by FAOSTAT. Domesticated animals is a significant info and yield for farming. An earlier information about the sum and appropriation of animals part is vital for agrarian tasks. Henceforth animals figure has stirred in interests of specialists everywhere throughout the world, particularly in India. However, there is no adequate and solid apparatus for estimating animals. This investigation is an endeavour toward discovering appropriate techniques for anticipating of domesticated animals.
Produção de vitelos a partir de bezerros leiteiros mestiços e da raça Holandesa

In this study, it was evaluated the productive performance of nine Zebu × Holstein crossbred calves in comparison with nine Holsteins calves for veal production. All animals were maintained in the similar environmental conditions, management and feeding, with individual measurement of dry matter intake. The evaluation measurements of the development of animal, as feed conversion ratio make possible to compare between the treatments, using a completely randomized design. The Zebu × Holstein calves showed higher values of hearth girth growth (23.3 cm) and average weight gain (1.45 kg), and also better feed conversion ratio (2.77 kg DM/kg BW), as compared to Holstein calves with 18.5 cm of hearth girth growth, 1.16 kg of average weight gain and feed conversion of 3.48 kg DM/kg BW, respectively. There was no difference for dry matter intake among the evaluated animals. As for production cost of the veal meat production, crossbred animals showed a lower cost per kilogram of produced meat. The results indicate the best potential of veal production from Zebu × Holstein calves, as a complementary activity of milk production.
Timing of Control Based on the Stage Structure of Pest Populations: A Simulation Approach

Because susceptibility of pests to control agents varies among life stages, knowledge of the stage structure of a pest population is critical for implementation of control strategies. However, computer simulations based on traditional female age-specific life tables are inadequate in this respect. A computer simulation of population growth based on an age stage, two-sex life table reveals the stage structure of a pest population at any time. Using this model, the most economical and efficient control strategies can be chosen and applied at the appropriate times.
Effect of Zinc Chloride or Zinc Sulfate Treatment of Protein Supplement on Milk Production

Abstract Production response to protein supplements treated with Zn salts to increase rumen escape was evaluated with 27 lactating Holstein cows in a switchback design trial with three treatments. Pelleted supplements fed with corn silage as total mixed rations were: 1) 18% protein, untreated, 2) 15% protein, treated with . 5% zinc chloride, and 3) 15% protein, treated with . 65% zinc sulfate. Corresponding total mixed rations (TMR) fed ad libitum contained 15, 12.6, and 13% crude protein. Each cow was offered 2.3 kg of alfalfa-orchardgrass hay daily. Dry matter intake (DMI) 17.2, 16.8, 17.0 kg/d), DMI as percent of body weight (2.74, 2.68, 2.73%), and milk total solids (10.8, 10.7, 10.6%) were similar, although low for TMR 1 to 3, respectively. Daily milk production and fat percentage were 26.4, 26.5, and 26.2 kg and 3.16, 3.21, and 3.26%, respectively. Plasma and milk Zn concentrations (1.15, 1.35, 1.33: 3.68, 4.37, 4.17 ppm) were relatively normal despite dietary concentrations of 135, 1386, and 1264 ppm. Body weight change, total milk yield, fat percent, FCM, milk protein yield, and SNF produced were similar among treatments. Dietary crude protein intake was highest for total mixed ration 1 but was lower than recommended on all diets as a result of low DMI.
PortraitAI: A Deep Learning-Based Approach for Generating User Portrait for Online Dating Website

User portrait is an important technique which could be widely adopted in many real-world applications. It refers to the task of estimating user‟s attributes containing their potential preferences and thus could be used to make better recommendations. Online dating Website is one of the most popular web applications which usually has more than 100 million users. Users of such Website are usually required to write down a brief self-introduction as well as fill in important attributes which are then used to make the friend recommendation. However, such data generally contains a good number of missing data or fake information. To cope with this challenge, this paper proposes a deep learning-based approach to generate user portrait merely from user‟s self-introduction. Then, a multi-task deep neural network is adopted to simultaneously estimate five kinds of attributes, e.g., age, gender, education, salary and characteristics, from the input textual data. The experimental dataset is collected from one famous dating Website in China. Both the proposed approach as well as three benchmark approaches are implemented and the results are reported. The performance of the proposed approach is superior to the compared method with respect to accuracy.
Budbreak induction in kiwifruit vines cultivated in an organic system by the biological method of single node cutting

Kiwifruit vines are an alternative approach to diversify Brazilian fruit farming because of the low supply and increase in the demand for their fruits. Hydrogenated cyanamide, which is the most common rest-breaking agent, is highly toxic and its use is not allowed in organic production systems. This study aimed at evaluating the efficiency of alternative rest-breaking agents in kiwifruit vines by using the biological method of single node cutting. Twigs of the cultivar Bruno were collected in an organic orchard in Pelotas, a city located in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Seven-centimeter-long cuts with a single shoot at the ends were segmented. Cuttings were placed on plastic trays with phenolic foam and soaked in water, at 85% relative humidity on average, and kept in bio-oxygen demand (BOD) incubators at 25± 1 °C and a 16-h photoperiod. Budbreak was evaluated in 2-day and 3-day intervals. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with ten treatments and three replications of ten sampling units each. The following variables were analyzed: average budbreak time (ABT), final budbreak rate (FBR), vigorous budbreak rate (VBR), velocity of budbreak (VB), percentage of open buds (POB) and dormancy index (DI). The rest-breaking agent garlic extract (GE) 10% + mineral oil (MO) 2% was the most efficient one in budbreak induction in both production cycles. Thus, this dose is recommended for budbreak induction in kiwifruit vines grown in an organic system.
An Enhanced Nonlinear Hybrid Precoding Algorithm for Millimeter Wave Massive MIMO Systems

Hybrid precoding has recently received considerable attentions in millimeter wave (mmWave) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. Especially, a nonlinear hybrid Tomlinson-Harashima precoding (THP) algorithm has recently received considerable attentions since it can effectively improve the performance of the hybrid precoding. This paper presents an enhanced nonlinear hybrid Tomlinson-Harashima precoding algorithm based on the column-by-column refinement (named as E-THP-CR algorithm). Compared with the previous works, the proposed algorithm offers a numberof advantages.The advantageof the proposed algorithm lies in achieving the column-by-column refinement of the analog precoding matrix. Afterwards, the digital precoding matrix is decomposed into two separate sections which respectively belong to the encoding part and effective channel part. This design can effectively remove the inter-user interference as expected in the THP module. Simulation results verify that the proposed algorithm provides higher spectral efficiency, compared with the other relevant algorithms.
Device-Free Human Gesture Recognition With Generative Adversarial Networks

Recent advances in device-free wireless sensing have created the emerging technique of device-free human gesture recognition (DFHGR), which could recognize human gestures by analyzing their shadowing effect on surrounding wireless signals. DFHGR has many potential applications in the fields of human–machine interaction, smart home, intelligent space, etc. State-of-the-art work has achieved satisfactory recognition accuracy when there are a sufficient number of training samples. However, it is time consuming and labor intensive to collect samples, thus how to realize DFHGR under a small training sample set becomes an urgent problem to solve. Motivated by the excellent ability of the generative adversarial network in synthesizing samples, in this article, we explore and exploit the idea of leveraging it to realize virtual samples augmentation. Specifically, we first design a single scenario network with new architecture and better-designed loss function to generate virtual samples using a few number of real samples. Then, we further develop a scenario transferring network to generate virtual samples by utilizing the real samples not only from the current scenario but also from another available scenario as well, which could improve the quality of synthesized samples with the extra knowledge learned from another scenario. We design an mmWave-based DFHGR testbed to test the proposed networks, extensive experimental results demonstrate that the augmented virtual samples are of high quality and facilitate DFHGR systems to achieve better accuracy.
Navigating Mandates and Working toward Coherence: Our Journey with a High-Stakes Teacher Performance Assessment

Abstract This article details the experiences of four teacher education faculty members as we navigated the consequential implementation of a state-mandated high stakes teacher performance assessment in our educator preparation program. By shifting our perspective from simply complying with an assessment mandate to considering how we can leverage implementation of high stakes performance assessment as a vehicle for program inquiry, we were able to gain significant insight into our practice.
Molecular circumscription and intraspecific variation in Porella canariensis (F.Weber) Underw. (Porellaceae, Marchantiophyta)

variation in Porella canariensis (F.Weber) Underw. (Porellaceae, Marchantiophyta) Tina Lopes, Michael Stech, Susana Fontinha, Manuela Sim-Sim Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, DBV, Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Portugal, Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência, Lisboa, Portugal, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands, Leiden University, The Netherlands, ISOPlexis Universidade da Madeira/DSBIO-DRADR-SRA, Campus da Penteada, Portugal
Understanding the Local Carbon Fluxes Variations and Their Relationship to Climate Conditions in a Sub-Humid Savannah-Ecosystem during 2008-2015: Case of Lamto in Cote d’Ivoire

The temporal variations of the Gross Primary Productivity (GPP), the Total Ecosystem Respiration (TER) and the Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE), and their responses to meteorological conditions (e.g. temperature, radiative flux and precipitation) at Lamto, in wet savannah region across Cote d’Ivoire are analyzed using GFED-CASA and daily meteorological data recorded over the 2008-2015 period. The study shows the links between these carbon fluxes and climate variability at Lamto that is subject to high anthropogenic pressures and seasonal bushfires. The correlative statistics from multiple regression methods were used to assess the different relationships and show how they change in time. The results show important seasonal variability in the Gross Primary Productivity and the Total Ecosystem Respiration mainly associated with the changes in temperature and radiative flux. In addition, the statistical analysis suggests a high correlation between meteorological conditions and the GPP and TER. These climatic conditions may explain 83% and 79% of the variances of GPP and TER respectively. Moreover, the interannual variability of the Net Ecosystem Exchange indicates that around Lamto, in the subhumid savannah, the ecosystem behaves as a carbon sink similar to other West African ecosystems. On the other hand, there is no clear link between the NEE and temperature, radiative flux and precipitation. This lack of connection may suggest a limited response of the NEE interannual dynamics related to the changes in climatic features.
Performance of a Position-Sensitive Neutron Scintillation Detector Based on Silicon Photomultipliers

In recent years, the price increase of 3He has triggered the search for alternative neutron detectors. One of the viable options is a scintillation-based neutron detector. Usually, photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) are used in these detectors for photodetection. However, the increase in performance requirements such as the operability in magnetic field and spatial resolution necessitates an advanced neutron detector. Therefore, we developed a detector prototype with an active area of 13 cm $\times\,13$ cm using silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). As compared to PMTs, SiPMs offer more compactness, more robustness, and a lower sensitivity to magnetic field. The final detector is aimed to be used in the future at the TREFF instrument of the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) in Garching, Germany, for neutron reflectometry (NR). First measurements were carried out at TREFF and at the dedicated detector test instrument V17 at BER-II of HZB in Berlin, Germany. In this study, we report the results for detection efficiency, gamma discrimination, 2-D position resolution, count rate, and detection linearity.