Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effectiveness of Using Depth Images for Gait-based Gender Classification

— Generally, gender can be identified based on someone’s appearance or voice. However, the walking pattern of a person has become another measurable characteristic in determining gender. This paper presents a new approach for gait-based gender classification using depth images. The main contribution of this study is a new fusion formula named as LETH with higher accuracy rates. Depth images from OU-ISIR Gait database was used. Gait Energy Image (GEI) was then used to normalize the depth image. After that, the images were projected into their PCA plane, gaining a very strong cyclical picture of a change of perspective. Features were then extracted by measuring three distances from three parts of the GEI image (feet, toe, and hand swing). Fine Gaussian Support Vector Machine (Fine Gaussian SVM), Decision Tree, and Weight K-Nearest Neighbor Classifier (KNN) were separately used as the classification method. Experimental results showed that the proposed fusion formula, LETH produced significant results, obtaining 96% accuracy using Fine Gaussian SVM, 98% accuracy using Weight KNN, and 78% accuracy using Fine Decision Tree classifiers, compared to previous studies.
The Innovation Breakthrough in Digital and Disruptive Era

This study aims to analyze the host's appearance and product display in live shopping from a semiotic perspective. The research method used was qualitative with observation techniques and in-depth interviews. The data were obtained by observing live shopping broadcasts and conducting interviews with 30 live shopping viewers. The data were analyzed using semiotic analysis and qualitative data analysis techniques. The findings showed that the hosts ’ appearance and product display in live shopping has a complex meaning that relies on the social and cultural context. The use of filters on social media and technology on smartphones influences how hosts and products are displayed in live shopping, which changes how the audience sees the products being sold. The audience's attention and purchase decisions may be influenced by the hosts' and the product's appearance. Additionally, the appearance created by social media filters and smartphone technology can influence the brand image and aesthetic value of the offered products.
Enhanced Optimization Based Feature Selection Method For The Software Fault Prediction

Software engineering operations include a number of steps that must be completed in order to produce a high-quality result. Software testing, inspection, formal verification, and software defect prediction are examples of these tasks. In the current circumstances, defects are the most serious issues, and forecasting them is very challenging. Many software defect prediction algorithms have been created by researchers and scientists to address this extremely useful subject. However, there is a need for an algorithm/method to better predict faults and decrease time and space complexities. All previous data study that did not use feature reduction resulted in the dimensionality curse. Several models for defect prediction have been developed by many researchers. In this study, an improved optimization-based feature selection method based on Sea Gull Optimization (SGO) is proposed, with a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier utilised to identify the SGO's fitness function and obtain the ideal feature set. The Enhanced Optimization Based Feature Selection (EOBFS) method is used to increase the software defect prediction classification accuracy. Various performance indicators such as Accuracy, Sensitivity, Specificity, Precision, and error rates such as False Positive Rate (FPR), Miss Rate, and False Discovery Rate are used to compare the proposed EOBFS to existing feature selection algorithms (FDR).
Relationship Between Foreign Direct Investments And Economic Growth Of India: Empirical Evidence From India

: Since 1991 Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) has been continuously contributing towards the economic development of Indian economy. On the basis of various literature review it can be said that foreign direct investment contributes positively towards growth domestic product(GDP) growth and employment generation in the developing countries like India. Therefore, the present study is conducted to analyse the role of the foreign direct investment on the economic growth of India for the sample period 1992 to 2019.In the study the economic growth is represented by the variables like gross domestic product(GDP) and employment generation in Indian for the time period 1992-2019. For the study various econometric tools like Augmented Dickey-Fuller(ADF) unit root test, Granger Causality test, Ordenary Least Square(OLS) regression method, Johansen Cointegration test and Error Correction test are applied. The ADF unit root test reflects that all three variables i.e GDP, FDP, and employment are stationary at 1 st difference I(1). The result of Granger causality test between Foreign Direct Investment and Gross Domestic Product shows unidirectional causality from economic growth to foreign direct investment in India. But The Granger Causality test shows no casual relationship between foreign direct investment and employment generation. The OLS regression analysis shows a positive relationship between FDI and GDP in India with R square value 0.886177. But the relationship between FDI and number of employment generation is not significant as it has the P value 0.3559. Johansen Cointrgration Test shows a long run positive relation among GDP, FDI and employment generation as both trace statistic and eigen value statistic reject the null hypothesis at 5% level of significance. The result of Error Correction Model(ECM) shows that the speed of adjustment among the variables toward long run is 25.5 percent per year. As FDI has positive impact on the economic growth in India so the government of India should take various policies to attract the foreign investors to India and Increase the FDI inflows.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Origin and features of mammalian chitinases

Disclaimer/Complaints regulations If you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: https://uba.uva. nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible.
Ascertaining the antecedents of Generation Y consumers’ perceived utility of celebrity influencers’ fashion content on Instagram and consequent fashion brand predispositions and purchase intentions

The fashion apparel industry constitutes a significant global economic force. Generation Y consumers represent a sought after target market to this industry as they are forecasted to have a disposable income outrivaling that of previous generations. Generation Y individuals are acknowledged as being amenable to the opinions of social media influencers, particularly those expressed by celebrity influencers, who often act as aspirational referents. Despite reports highlighting the relevance of the social media influencer strategy when targeting Generation Y, there remains a paucity of research on influencer marketing. Therefore, this study aims to ascertain the antecedents of Generation Y consumers’ perceived utility of celebrity influencers’ Instagram fashion apparel content and consequent fashion brand predispositions and purchase intentions. Fieldwork yielded 334 questionnaires from a convenience sample of Generation Y students registered at two universities in South Africa; data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that informational value, entertainment value, and trustworthiness account for more than 50% of the variance in Generation Y consumers’ perceptions of the utility of celebrity influencers’ Instagram fashion content. In turn, perceived utility, in conjunction with its determinants, accounts for 70% of the variance in their predispositions toward showcased fashion apparel brands, which collectively accounts for 65% of the total variance in their intentions to purchase those brands. These findings highlight celebrity influencers’ salient role in Generation Y consumers’ fashion brand choices and the necessity of incorporating celebrity influencer appeal into fashion apparel marketing communication strategies designed to engage with this generation.
Processing and Storage Effects on the Concentration of Water-Soluble Phosphorus and Trace Nutrients

Background and Objective: High cost of mineral fertilizers has resulted in increased use of animal manure by smallholder farmers in Nigeria. A study was carried out to process manure as practised by farmers to assess the effect on nutrient concentration as well as water-soluble P. Materials and Methods: Four manure types, poultry litter, cow dung, sheep and goat and farmyard manure were used in the research. The different manures were subjected to three treatments, shade drying, sun drying and composting. The materials were sampled at one, two and three-month intervals and analyzed for the amount of water-soluble phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and some micronutrients. Data were subjected to analyses of variance. Results: The results showed significant differences (p<0.05) in the amount of WSP by sources, processing and storage with the lowest amount of WSP obtained from poultry manure (2162.26 mg kg G 1 ). Sun drying and long storage duration (3 months) were observed to have the lowest WSP concentration of 2009.54 and 2109.95 mg kg G 1 , respectively. High contents of Ca and micronutrients were observed with composting. Conclusion: The results obtained showed that processing and storage of manure plays a significant role in the efficiency of nutrient retention and sun drying of manures could serve as a method to reduce the loss of water soluble phosphorous.
Sterile spikelets assimilate carbon in sorghum and related grasses

Sorghum and its relatives in the grass tribe Andropogoneae bear their flowers in pairs of spikelets, in which one spikelet (seed-bearing, or SS) of the pair produces a seed and the other is sterile or male (staminate). This division of function does not occur in other major cereals such as wheat or rice. Additionally, one bract of the seed-bearing spikelet often produces a long extension, the awn, which is in the same position as but independently derived from that of wheat and rice. The function of the sterile spikelet is unknown and that of the awn has not been tested in Andropogoneae. We used radioactive and stable isotopes of carbon, as well as RNA-seq of metabolically important enzymes to show that the sterile spikelet assimilates carbon, which is translocated to the largely heterotrophic SS, thereby functioning as a nurse tissue. The awn shows no evidence of photosynthesis. These results apply to distantly related species of Andropogoneae. Thus, the sterile spikelet, but not the awn, could affect yield in the cultivated species and fitness in the wild ones.
Multisensor Fusion for Railway Irregularity Inspection System: Integration of RTK GNSS, MEMS IMU, Odometer, and Laser

The accurate assessment of railway irregularities plays a pivotal role in ensuring both operational safety and passenger comfort, especially in the context of high-speed railways. Traditional static methods for monitoring these irregularities, such as absolute measurement trolley systems relying on total stations, have proven to be inefficient. On the other hand, relative measurement systems like the global navigation satellite system/inertial navigation system (GNSS/INS) integrated concept offer high operational efficiency but come with substantial costs associated with navigation-grade inertial measurement unit (IMU) systems. In this research endeavor, we introduce a novel multisensor fusion system centered around a relative inspection trolley. This innovative approach serves to significantly reduce equipment expenditures while simultaneously elevating the accuracy of irregularity detection. The core components of this system comprise real-time kinematic (RTK) GNSS, a cost-effective micro-electric mechanical system (MEMS) IMU, an odometer, and two laser modules. The integration of various advanced techniques, including zero velocity update (ZUPT), Ranch-Tung-Striebel smoother (RTS), nonholonomic constraint (NHC), odometer calibration (OC), and prior knowledge (PK), collectively enhances the efficiency and precision of railway irregularity measurements. The results obtained from extensive testing on railway irregularities demonstrate the remarkable capabilities of the proposed system. It exhibits a measurement precision of approximately 0.2, 1.0, 0.7, 0.5, and 0.5 mm for rail gauge, cross level, twist, vertical irregularities, and lateral irregularities, respectively. Consequently, our suggested technique stands as a compelling choice for the precise quantification of railway irregularities, offering a compelling solution for the railway industry.
Energy Storage Performance of Polymer-Based Dielectric Composites with Two-Dimensional Fillers

Dielectric capacitors have garnered significant attention in recent decades for their wide range of uses in contemporary electronic and electrical power systems. The integration of a high breakdown field polymer matrix with various types of fillers in dielectric polymer nanocomposites has attracted significant attention from both academic and commercial sectors. The energy storage performance is influenced by various essential factors, such as the choice of the polymer matrix, the filler type, the filler morphologies, the interfacial engineering, and the composite structure. However, their application is limited by their large amount of filler content, low energy densities, and low-temperature tolerance. Very recently, the utilization of two-dimensional (2D) materials has become prevalent across several disciplines due to their exceptional thermal, electrical, and mechanical characteristics. Compared with zero-dimensional (0D) and one-dimensional (1D) fillers, two-dimensional fillers are more effective in enhancing the dielectric and energy storage properties of polymer-based composites. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of 2D filler-based composites, encompassing a wide range of materials such as ceramics, metal oxides, carbon compounds, MXenes, clays, boron nitride, and others. In a general sense, the incorporation of 2D fillers into polymer nanocomposite dielectrics can result in a significant enhancement in the energy storage capability, even at low filler concentrations. The current challenges and future perspectives are also discussed.
The deterioration and treatment of volcanic stone: a review of the literature

A literature review reveals that conservation studies of volcanic stonework have focused on tuffs that exhibit serious deterioration. Other volcanic rocks used for monuments or sculpture are basalt, scoria, andesite, dacite, rhyolite, and trachyte. Important examples include the statues on Easter Island, the Buddhist shrine of Borobudur in Java, the churches at Goreme in Turkey and Lalibela in Ethiopia, the rock-cut Buddhas of Japan, and the caves of the Deccan plateau in India. The application of consolidants has been the treatment most frequently tested, but little is known about long-term efficacy. Monuments carved in situ present particularly intractable problems.
Driving Intention Recognition of Surrounding Vehicles Based on a Time-Sequenced Weights Hidden Markov Model for Autonomous Driving

Accurate perception, especially situational awareness, is central to the evolution of autonomous driving. This necessitates understanding both the traffic conditions and driving intentions of surrounding vehicles. Given the unobservable nature of driving intentions, the hidden Markov model (HMM) has emerged as a popular tool for intention recognition, owing to its ability to relate observable and hidden variables. However, HMM does not account for the inconsistencies present in time series data, which are crucial for intention recognition. Specifically, HMM overlooks the fact that recent observations offer more reliable insights into a vehicle’s driving intention. To address the aforementioned limitations, we introduce a time-sequenced weights hidden Markov model (TSWHMM). This model amplifies the significance of recent observations in recognition by integrating a discount factor during the observation sequence probability computation, making it more aligned with practical requirements. Regarding the model’s input, in addition to easily accessible states of a target vehicle, such as lateral speed and heading angle, we also introduced lane hazard factors that reflect collision risks to capture the traffic environment information surrounding the vehicle. Experiments on the HighD dataset show that TSWHMM achieves recognition accuracies of 94.9% and 93.4% for left and right lane changes, surpassing both HMM and recurrent neural networks (RNN). Moreover, TSWHMM recognizes lane-changing intentions earlier than its counterparts. In tests involving more complex roundabout scenarios, TSWHMM achieves an accuracy of 87.3% and can recognize vehicles’ intentions to exit the roundabout 2.09 s in advance.
A non-random variation of monthly average temperatures and precipitation quantities in Romania during the period 2009-2012

Within this study we reflect non-randomness in the series of data concerning monthly average temperature and precipitation values registered in Romania during the period 2009-2012. We identified the slow increase in the monthly average temperature with 0.04 0 C/months and a low decrease of average precipitation quantity with 0.29 mm/month. We also revealed that monthly average temperature and precipitation quantities series of data exposed behaviour close to Brown noise. The complex nature of the climate system and the unpredictability of weather are also reflected.
Genesis of the Bangbu Orogenic Gold Deposit, Tibet: Evidence from Fluid Inclusion, Stable Isotopes, and Ar‐Ar Geochronology

The Bangbu gold deposit is a large orogenic gold deposit in Tibet formed during the Alpine‐Himalayan collision. Ore bodies (auriferous quartz veins) are controlled by the E‐W‐trending Qusong‐Cuogu‐Zhemulang brittle‐ductile shear zone. Quartz veins at the deposit can be divided into three types: pre‐metallogenic hook‐like quartz veins, metallogenic auriferous quartz veins, and post‐metallogenic N‐S quartz veins. Four stages of mineralization in the auriferous quartz veins have been identified: (1) Stage S1 quartz+coarse‐grained sulfides, (2) Stage S2 gold+fine‐grained sulfides, (3) Stage S3 quartz+carbonates, and (4) Stage S4 quartz+ greigite. Fluid inclusions indicate the ore‐forming fluid was CO2‐N2‐CH4 rich with homogenization temperatures of 170–261°C, salinities 4.34–7.45 wt% NaCl equivalent. δ18Ofluid (3.98‰–7.18‰) and low δDV‐SMOV (–90‰ to –44‰) for auriferous quartz veins suggest ore‐forming fluids were mainly metamorphic in origin, with some addition of organic matter. Quartz vein pyrite has δ34SV‐CDT values of 1.2‰–3.6‰ (an average of 2.2‰), whereas pyrite from phyllite has δ34SV‐CDT 5.7‰–9.9‰ (an average of 7.4‰). Quartz vein pyrites yield 206Pb/204Pb ratios of 18.662–18.764, 207Pb/204Pb 15.650–15.683, and 208Pb/204Pb 38.901–39.079. These isotopic data indicate Bangbu ore‐forming materials were probably derived from the Langjiexue accretionary wedge. 40Ar/39Ar ages for sericite from auriferous sulfide‐quartz veins yield a plateau age of 49.52 ± 0.52 Ma, an isochron age of 50.3 ± 0.31 Ma, suggesting that auriferous veins were formed during the main collisional period of the Tibet‐Himalayan orogen (∼65–41 Ma).
Chapter 16. Performance Reviews Of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations

[ This chapter provides an impressionistic look at how the ecosystem and precautionary approaches have been faring in international practice with three nautical images helping capture the realities. The approaches represent beacons of hope offering powerful beams of guidance on how to avoid the shoals of degraded ecosystems and depleted fisheries. Seas of confusion also describe the approaches in light of continuing disagreements over terminology, the wide array of implementation measures available, differing academic views on the implications for fisheries management and still limited interpretation of international tribunals. Seas of illusion characterize a third reality with implementation largely an illusion at the regional level as exemplified by three Atlantic regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs)- the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO), and the International Commission for the Conse Keywords:beacons of hope; ecosystem approach; ICCAT; International fisheries governance; north Atlantic Salmon conservation organization (NASCO); northwest Atlantic fisheries organization (NAFO); regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs); seas of confusion; seas of illusion , This chapter analyzes the mechanisms and principles developed in international fisheries law to address the question of allocation of fishing opportunities. It first examines some general aspects of allocation of living marine resources. Then, it describes the history behind the establishment of total allowable catches and national allocation as a fisheries management tool in international fisheries, as well as the continuing search for guiding principles ruling allocation decisions. The chapter critically analyzes the current legal framework and the current practices of regional fisheries management organizations/arrangements (RFMO/As) from the perspective of equity. In particular, 'equitable access and allocation' and the principle of common but differentiated responsibility are explored as means to introduce (or reinforce) equity in the normative framework for the adoption of allocation decisions. The chapter focuses only on stocks that have a high seas component. Keywords:fishing opportunities; high seas; international fisheries law; regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) ]
APPLICATION OF GIS TO IDENTIFY SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL EXTENT OF CRITICAL CONDITION FOR RURAL DRINKING WATER SUPPLY DURING DRY SEASON

Huge drawdown of the groundwater table is one of the environmental hazards due to large scale groundwater withdrawal during dry period. Hand tube wells (HTWs) and shallow tube wells (STWs) operated under gravitational force, are the main supplier of drinking water in rural areas may be dry out due to excessive drawdown. This study was conducted to identify the unit areas (upazillas) within Dinajpur district of Bangladesh where groundwater goes under critical level (6m) using bservation wells data during 1995-2003. Three interpolation methods available in GIS tools namely, inverse distance weighted (IDW), Thin-plate Spline and Kriging have been tested to construct groundwater level surface from the observation well data and Kriging with ordinary linear semi-variance model has given the most accurate result. The maximum duration of critical period for drinking water supply in the study area has been found as 120 days in 1999. The maximum critical areas were 49.7% of the study area which causes severe drought in 1995.