Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dressed human modeling, detection, and parts localization

This dissertation presents an integrated human shape modeling, detection, and body part localization vision system. It demonstrates that the system can (1) detect pedestrians in various shapes, sizes, postures, partial occlusion, and clothing from a moving vehicle using stereo cameras; (2) locate the joints of a person automatically and accurately without employing any markers around the joints. The following contributions distinguish this dissertation from previous work: (1) Dressed human modeling and dynamic model assembling: Unlike previous work that employs a fixed human body model or global deformable template to perform human detection, in this dissertation merged body parts are introduced to represent the deformations caused by clothing, segmentation errors, or low image resolution. A dressed human model is dynamically assembled from the model parts in the recognition step; the shapes of the body parts and the size and spatial relationships between them (the contextual information) are represented as invariant under translation, rotation, and scaling. Therefore, the system can detect people in different clothes, positions, sizes, and orientations. (2) Bayesian similarity measure: A probabilistic similarity measure is derived from the human model that combines the local shape and global relationship constraints to guide body part identification and human detection. Thus, the identification of a part does not only depend on its own shape but also the contextual constraints from other parts. In contrast with previous work, the proposed similarity measure enables efficient shape matching and comparison robust to articulation, partial occlusion, and segmentation errors through coarse-to-fine human model assembling. (3) Recursive context reasoning algorithm: Contour-based human detection depends on reliable contour extraction, but contour extraction is an under-constrained problem without the knowledge about the objects to be detected. Unlike previous work that assumes perfect and complete contours are available, this dissertation proposes a recursive context reasoning (RCR) algorithm to solve the above dilemma. A contour updating procedure is introduced to integrate the human model and the identified body parts to predict the shapes and locations of the parts missed by the contour detector; the refined contours are used to reevaluate the Bayesian similarity measure and to determine if a person is present or not. Therefore, contour extraction, body part localization, and human detection are improved iteratively.
Lateral accretion of modern unvegetated rivers: remotely sensed fluvial–aeolian morphodynamics and perspectives on the Precambrian rock record

Abstract Modern unvegetated rivers flowing through aeolian-dune fields demonstrate potential as analogues for pre-vegetation fluvial landscapes. A prominent example is contained in the Lençóis Maranhenses of Brazil, a coastal aeolian system hosting the semi-perennial Rio Negro. Remotely sensed images covering c. 45 years display the rhythmic expansion and wind-driven shift of single-threaded and sinuous fluvial trunks alternating with wider braided plains. Sinuous tracts feature mid-channel and bank-attached bars, including expansional point bars with subdued relief. The morphology, accretion and sediment transport of unvegetated point bars in the Rio Negro are compared to the morphodynamics of vegetated meandering rivers. Unvegetated point bars are composed of large coalescent unit bars, lack apparent scroll topography and are preferentially attached to channel banks located on the windward side of the river course. Unvegetated meanders have expansional behaviour related to downwind channel trailing. Point bars maintain an expansional planform despite spatial confinement induced by aeolian dunes. Channel-flow impingement onto cohesion-less banks favours scouring of deep pools along the bar tails, which host bank-collapse deposits subsequently reworked into new bars. Analogies to Precambrian rivers suggest that ancient unvegetated fluvial landscapes were not unequivocally featured by low sinuosity, especially if characterized by a low gradient and stable discharge. This inference is supported by ongoing studies on Proterozoic fluvial–aeolian systems in the Canadian Shield. Lack of scroll topography introduces overlap with low-sinuosity fluvial facies models, underscoring the value of observing ancient fluvial deposits in planform, or along 3D sections where the palaeodrainage of channel bodies and attached bars can be compared.
Cooling Event in the Boundary of Middle / Late Eocene of Java

The indication of Eocene climatic changes is defined based on the change of abundance and diversity of palynomorphs occurring in the Nanggulan Formation. This is possible because this formation has been found to yield the richest and most diverse palynomorph assemblages of Eocene age in Southeast Asia. Palynological evidence, from the distribution of index taxa and palynological events, indicates that the Nanggulan Formation was deposited during the Middle to Late Eocene as marked by the constant occurrence of Longapertites vaneendenbergi, Proxapertites operculatus, Proxapertites cursus and Cicatricosisporites eocenicus. The Middle Eocene age is characterised by high abundance and diversity of rain forest elements suggesting warm and wet climate which include Palmaepollenites kutchensis, Sapotaceoidaepollenites spp. , Retitricolporites equatorialis, Campnosperma sp. , Marginipollis concinus and Dicolpopollis malesianus. On the other hand, the Late Eocene age is marked by the appearance of the hinterland element Podocarpidites spp. and the disappearance of the main rain forest elements indicating cool and dry climate. In this case, cooling event is defined by the occurrence hinterland element of Podocarpidites spp. which can be used for recognising Middle/ Late Eocene boundary.
Remote Sensing - GIS Integration: Progress Towards Defining a Conifer Understory Classification System For Use With Landsat TM Data'

A current forest landscape problem in boreal mixed-wood management is to detect the presence and spatial distribution of conifer understory within hardwood and mixed-wood stands. A research program was created to determine the extent by which Landsat Thematic Mapper (Landsat TM), data could be used to map the location and extent of conifer understory stands. A land cover classification system needs to be defined that is both appropriate for the resolution of image data to be employed, and the output classes must have informational value to the forest manager. Conifer understory was photo interpreted and mapped from 1:10,000 color infrared aerial photographs to three and four levels of land cover, and incorporated into a geographic information system (GIS) database that consisted of forest cover polygons for the study area. An integrated remote sensing-GIS approach was used by overlaying the understory polygons from the GIS onto a spatially-registered, two-date, leaf- off and leaf-on Landsat TM data set. Three sets of forest land cover classes consisting of 15, 30, and 40 classes described by overstory stand structure and varying amounts of understory, were assessed for their spectral separability with contiguous and random pixel sampling strategies using Bhattacharyya distance. Conifer understory classes that incorporated crown closure in the 30-class set had higher separability values because these polygons incorporated the influence of stand structure on Landsat TM spectral response.
The University of Birmingham ( Live System ) Robust twin boosting for feature selection from high-dimensional omics data with label noise

Omics data such as microarray transcriptomic and mass spectrometry proteomic data are typically characterized by high dimensionality and relatively small sample sizes. In order to discover biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis from omics data, feature selection has become an indispensable step to find a parsimonious set of informative features. However, many previous studies report considerable label noise in omics data, which will lead to unreliable inferences to select uninformative features. Yet, to the best of our knowledge, very few feature selection methods are proposed to address this problem. This paper proposes a novel ensemble feature selection algorithm, robust twin boosting feature selection (RTBFS), which is robust to label noise in omics data. The algorithm has been validated on an omics feature selection test bed and seven real-world heterogeneous omics datasets, of which some are known to have label noise. Compared with several state-of-the-art ensemble feature selection methods, RTBFS can select more informative features despite label noise and obtain better classification results. RTBFS is a general feature selection method and can be applied to other data with label noise. MATLAB implementation of RTBFS and sample datasets are available at: http://www.cs. bham.ac. uk/∼szh/TReBFSMatlab.zip
A relational algebra for SPARQL

The SPARQL query language for RDF provides Semantic Web developers with a powerful tool to extract information from large datasets. This report describes a transformation from SPARQL into the relational algebra, an abstract intermediate language for the expression and analysis of queries. This makes existing work on query planning and optimization available to SPARQL implementors. A further translation into SQL is outlined, and mismatches between SPARQL semantics and the relational approach are discussed. The SPARQL query language is one of the latest additions to the Semantic Web toolbox. It provides powerful facilities to extract information out of large sets of RDF data. This report describes a transformation from SPARQL queries into the relational algebra, an intermediate language for the expression and analysis of queries that is widely used in the database area [2]. An RDF graph can be represented as a “table” with three columns, ? subject, ? predicate and ? object. Each row corresponds to one triple. Similarly, the result of a SPARQL SELECT query is a table of RDF nodes. These tables are RDF relations. The algebra described in this report consists of operators on RDF relations. Some of them are well-known from regular relational algebra, others are slightly modified to reproduce SPARQL semantics. Figure 1 shows a SPARQL query and its translation into a relational operator tree. Expressing SPARQL queries in relational algebra has several benefits: – It makes a large body of work on query planning and optimization available to SPARQL implementers. – It simplifies the problem of supporting SPARQL in database-backed RDF stores by splitting off considerations specific to the store’s database layout. Section 3 outlines a translation into SQL. – While this report assumes a simple relation of triples without further substructure as the basic building block of expressions, it might just as well be a “view” on a more complex source of triples, like, for example, a distributed union of RDF graphs, or an application-specific database mapped into RDF. Substituting their definitions into the operator tree, and subsequent use of expression transformation and query planning could yield efficient execution strategies for those complex sources of RDF data. SELECT ? name ? email WHERE { ? person rdf:type foaf:Person . person foaf:name ? name . OPTIONAL { ? person foaf:mbox ? email } }
DATA STREAMS : MODELS AND ALGORITHMS

In recent years, advances in hardware technology have facilitated ne w ways of collecting data continuously. In many applications such as network monitorin g, the volume of such data is so large that it may be impossible to store the data on disk. Furthermore, even when the data can be stored, the volume of th incoming data may be so large that it may be impossible to process any partic ular record more than once. Therefore, many data mining and database op erati ns such as classification, clustering, frequent pattern mining and indexing b ecome significantly more challenging in this context. In many cases, the data patterns may evolve continuously, as a result of which it is necessary to design the mining algorithms effectively in order to accou nt f r changes in underlying structure of the data stream. This makes the solution s of the underlying problems even more difficult from an algorithmic and computa tion l point of view. This book contains a number of chapters which are caref ully chosen in order to discuss the broad research issues in data streams. The purp ose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the organization of the stream proces sing and mining techniques which are covered in this book.
UNE DÉCLARATION D’UN COMITÉ CONSULTATIF (DCC) Le comité canadien de lutte antituberculeuse

Le Comité canadien de lutte antituberculeuse (CCLA) donne à l’Agence de la santé publique du Canada (ASPC) des conseils constants, à jour et fondés sur des données scientifiques en ce qui concerne les stratégies et les priorités canadiennes en matière de prévention et de lutte contre la tuberculose au pays. L’ASPC reconnaît que les conseils et les recommandations figurant dans la présente déclaration reposent sur les connaissances scientifiques et la pratique médicale les plus récentes. Elle diffuse ce document à des fins d’information aux intervenants en médecine et en santé publique qui cherchent à prévenir et à contrer la tuberculose.
NAFTA and the Geography of North American Trade

Debates over the desirability a preferential trading area (PTA) begin with the supposition that it will have two effects on the volume of trade: it will increase trade between PTA members, and decrease trade between members and non-members. This paper demonstrates, however, that at the regional level the effects of NAFTA have been much more complicated than what is normally supposed. Specifically, I find that NAFTA has meant (i) less trade between Eastern Canada and the United States and Mexico, (ii) more trade between Central Canada and the United States and Mexico, and (iii) more trade between Western Canada and Mexico, but no change in the volume of trade between Western Canada and the United States. I also find that NAFTA has decreased trade between Canadian regions and both Europe and Asia, while increasing Mexico's trade with Asia.
Analysis of seismic magnitude differentials (mb−Mw) across megathrust faults in the vicinity of recent great earthquakes

Spatial variations in underthrusting earthquake seismic magnitude differentials (mb − Mw) are examined for plate boundary megathrusts in the vicinity of the 26 December 2004 Sumatra-Andaman (Mw 9.2), 2010 Maule, Chile (Mw 8.8), and 11 March 2011 Tohoku, Japan (Mw 9.1) great earthquakes. The magnitude differentials, corrected for ω-squared source spectrum dependence on seismic moment, provide a first-order probe of spatial variations of frequency-dependent seismic radiation. This is motivated by observations that the three great earthquakes all have coherent short-period radiation from the down-dip portions of their ruptures as imaged through back-projections, but little coherent short-period energy from shallower regions where large coseismic slip occurred. While there is substantial scatter in the magnitude measures, all three regions display some increase in relative strength of short-period seismic waves with depth, with the pattern being strongest for Sumatra and Japan where the deeper portion of the seismogenic zone is below the overriding crust. Other regions such as the Kuril Islands, Aleutians, Peru, and Southern Sumatra/Sumba show little, if any, depth pattern in the magnitude differentials. Variation in material and frictional properties over particularly wide seismogenic megathrusts likely produce the depth-dependence observed in both mb−Mw residuals and great earthquake seismic radiation.
Glia Mediates the Neuroprotective Action of Estradiol on-Amyloid-Induced Neuronal

Departments of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology (M.A.S., M.Ch., S.M.), Internal Medicine (C.V., M.Ca.), and Pharmaceutical Sciences (A.C.), University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; DISCAFF, University of Piemonte Orientale (P.L.C.), 28100 Novara, Italy; Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome La Sapienza (F.N.), 00185 Rome, Italy; and INM Neuromed (F.N.), 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
Use of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) in differentiation of selected species of Cucumis grown in Southern India

Cucumis sativus (Cucumber), Cucumis melo var. acidulus (Vellari) and C. melo var. momordica (Snapmelon) are three species which are widely cultivated in India as vegetable crops. These species are distinguished based on leaf, hypanthium and fruit characteristics; however, large variation in morphological and fruit traits has been observed in different populations. A combination of morphological and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis were carried out in these species to have a better understanding of the taxonomy. RAPD analysis of genomic DNA revealed that polymorphism with OPBE, OPBF primer series and banding pattern of OPBE-18, OPBF-03 and OPBF-15 were able to distinguish between C. sativus, C. melo var. acidulus and C. melo var. momordica.
Selection of pomegranate ( Punica granatum L . ) in south-eastern Tunisia

Tunisia is one of the main producers and exporters of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in the world. Due to its international importance, the selection of both quantitative and qualitative most desirable varieties has become a necessity. To select new cultivars that are most appropriate for commercial use, 21 accessions were collected from different regions of south-east Tunisia. 24 morphological characters of the tree and fruit were studied for each accession. This study has revealed considerable diversity especially concerning the tree vigor, the fruit size and color and the acidity of juice. Taking into account all comments, some trees are considered particularly efficient in south-eastern Tunisia.
Qualitative analysis of meat and meat products by multiplex polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) technique

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) assay was applied to processed and raw meats for the identification of the most used species in foodstuffs such as, ruminant, poultry, fish and pork materials. Specific-species primers, designed according to the conservative regions of 16S rRNA, were used after alignment of the available sequences in the GenBank database. The primers generated specific DNA fragments of 183, 224, 290 and 374 bp length for poultry, fish, pork and ruminant, respectively. The optimized M-PCR assay was applied to 93 commercial meat products and it showed the presence of poultry meat in red meat analyzed, although, it was not indicated on the label.
Implications for crop models , phenotyping approaches and ideotypes

There is a new interest in plant morphogenesis and architecture because molecular genetics is providing new information on their genetic and physiological control. From a crop modeller’s point of view, this requires particular attention paid to the regulation of sinks associated with organ development, as well as their interactions with assimilate sources. Existing agronomic and architectural crop models are not capable of simulating such interactions. A conceptual framework is presented for the analysis and simulation of crop growth driven by either assimilate source or sink dynamics, building on the assumption that meristems are the main sites in the plant architecture where sinks are initiated and adjusted to resources. Among the numerous sink–source feedbacks to be considered are sensing of the plant’s resource and stress status by meristems (enabling adjustment of morphogenesis), as well as transitory reserves, organ senescence and end-product inhibition of photosynthesis (necessary for the plant to cope with acute imbalances). These feedbacks are to a large extent related to sugar metabolism and can be explained with recent molecular findings on the prominent place in plant development of sugar sensing and the regulation of sucrose cleavage at sink sites. A model integrating these phenomena in a simplified manner, called EcoMeristem, was developed and is being applied in phenotyping for functional-genomics studies on rice. Theoretical evidence and model sensitivity analyses suggested that sink regulation during vegetative growth has a strong effect on plant vigour and growth rate, even at given levels of leaf photosynthetic capacity. However, the usefulness of complex, whole-plant models such as EcoMeristem for heuristic phenotyping approaches remains to be demonstrated. Specific problems are related to the stability of process-based crop parameters across environments, as well as the measurement of such crop parameters that are inaccessible to direct observation. But it is argued that integrated, structural-functional models may be the only means to quantify complex traits, such as those governing adaptive morphology (phenotypic plasticity). Furthermore, such models may be well suited to develop improved plant type concepts in silico. 158 M. DINGKUHN ET AL.
Corroborating indicates nurses’ ethical values in a geriatric ward

The aim of the study was to identify nurses’ ethical values, which become apparent through their behaviour in the interactions with older patients in caring encounters at a geriatric clinic. Descriptions of ethics in a caring practice are a problem since they are vague compared with the four principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. A Grounded Theory methodology was used. In total, 65 observations and follow-up interviews with 20 nurses were conducted, and data were analysed by constant comparative analysis. Three categories were identified: showing consideration, connecting, and caring for. These categories formed the basis of the core category: “Corroborating. ” In corroborating, the focus is on the person in need of integrity and self-determination; that is, the autonomy principle. A similar concept was earlier described in regard to confirming. Corroborating deals more with support and interaction. It is not enough to be kind and show consideration (i.e., to benefit someone); nurses must also connect and care for the older person (i.e., demonstrate non-maleficence) in order to corroborate that person. The findings of this study can improve the ethics of nursing care. There is a need for research on development of a high standard of nursing care to corroborate the older patients in order to maintain their autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence. The principal of justice was not specifically identified as a visible nursing action. However, all older patients received treatment, care, and reception in an equivalent manner.
ESTIMATING THE PRESERVATION VALUE OF TALEGHAN LAKE'S ECOSYSTEM AND DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN USE AND NON-USE VALUE

Regarding the importance of natural resources in preserving natural ecosystem and human being survival, protecting these resources and preventing their demolition will be necessary. Since Taleghan Lake, located in Iran, is the habitat for plants and animals. The present study determined the preservation value of this lake and estimated the willingness to pay of people (WTP) for this, using the contingent valuation method (CVM). Also, hierarchical analysis method was used to determine the shares of use and non-use values in the whole economic value. Results from Logit model showed that the maximum willingness to pay amounting to 41400 rials for each person per month. On the basis of AHP approach, 3150 Rials and 10350 Rials out of 41400 rials have been estimated as use and non-use value, respectively for each person per month. Also in the second method, willingness to pay using the open-ended method has been determined as 58390 rials for each person per month from which 43792.5 rials and 14597.5 rials have been related to used and non-used values of the lake, respectively. Results from the two models for distinguishing between the use and non-use values are indicatives of allocating more amounts for use value compared with non-use value. This can be led to depletion of natural and environmental resources of the lake.