Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GNSS-stereo-inertial SLAM for arable farming

The accelerating pace in the automation of agricultural tasks demands highly accurate and robust localization systems for field robots. Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) methods inevitably accumulate drift on exploratory trajectories and primarily rely on place revisiting and loop closing to keep a bounded global localization error. Loop closure techniques are significantly challenging in agricultural fields, as the local visual appearance of different views is very similar and might change easily due to weather effects. A suitable alternative in practice is to employ global sensor positioning systems jointly with the rest of the robot sensors. In this paper we propose and implement the fusion of global navigation satellite system (GNSS), stereo views, and inertial measurements for localization purposes. Specifically, we incorporate, in a tightly coupled manner, GNSS measurements into the stereo-inertial ORB-SLAM3 pipeline. We thoroughly evaluate our implementation in the sequences of the Rosario data set, recorded by an autonomous robot in soybean fields, and our own in-house data. Our data includes measurements from a conventional GNSS, rarely included in evaluations of state-of-the-art approaches. We characterize the performance of GNSS-stereo-inertial SLAM in this application case, reporting pose error reductions between 10% and 30% compared to visual-inertial and loosely coupled GNSS-stereo-inertial baselines. In addition to such analysis, we also release the code of our implementation as open source.
The Looming Threat of Fake and LLM-generated LinkedIn Profiles: Challenges and Opportunities for Detection and Prevention

In this paper, we present a novel method for detecting fake and Large Language Model (LLM)-generated profiles in the LinkedIn Online Social Network immediately upon registration and before establishing connections. Early fake profile identification is crucial to maintaining the platform's integrity since it prevents imposters from acquiring the private and sensitive information of legitimate users and from gaining an opportunity to increase their credibility for future phishing and scamming activities. This work uses textual information provided in LinkedIn profiles and introduces the Section and Subsection Tag Embedding (SSTE) method to enhance the discriminative characteristics of these data for distinguishing between legitimate profiles and those created by imposters manually or by using an LLM. Additionally, the dearth of a large publicly available LinkedIn dataset motivated us to collect 3600 LinkedIn profiles for our research. We release our dataset publicly for research purposes. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first large publicly available LinkedIn dataset for fake LinkedIn account detection. Within our paradigm, we assess static and contextualized word embeddings, including GloVe, Flair, BERT, and RoBERTa. We show that the suggested method can distinguish between legitimate and fake profiles with an accuracy of about 95% across all word embeddings. In addition, we show that SSTE has a promising accuracy for identifying LLM-generated profiles, despite the fact that no LLM-generated profiles were employed during the training phase, and can achieve an accuracy of approximately 90% when only 20 LLM-generated profiles are added to the training set. It is a significant finding since the proliferation of several LLMs in the near future makes it extremely challenging to design a single system that can identify profiles created with various LLMs.
SPIN-UP OF SPACE DEBRIS CAUSED BY SOLAR RADIATION PRESSURE

The dynamics of the space debris objects undergoes perturbations under the influence of the environmental forces and torques. The Earth’s gravity field affects the orientation of the satellites while the magnetic field dissipates the spin energy by inducing eddy currents in the conductive elements of the orbiting objects. The solar photon pressure produces force on the exposed surface area of the satellite and generates a small torque which has the potential to spin up the illuminated object. One of the best examples of debris spin-up is TOPEX/Poseidon with the spin parameters observed since it was decommissioned in January 2006. The solar radiation pressure exerts force on the inclined solar panel and produces a small torque with the magnitude below 1 mNm. Over the period of 11 years the solar radiation torque increased the spin rate of the satellite from 0 to 5.7 rotations-per-minute.
Extended Local Analysis of Inexact Gauss-Newton-like Method for Least Square Problems using Restricted Convergence Domains

Abstract We present a local convergence analysis of inexact Gauss-Newton-like method (IGNLM) for solving nonlinear least-squares problems in a Euclidean space setting. The convergence analysis is based on our new idea of restricted convergence domains. Using this idea, we obtain a more precise information on the location of the iterates than in earlier studies leading to smaller majorizing functions. This way, our approach has the following advantages and under the same computational cost as in earlier studies: A large radius of convergence and more precise estimates on the distances involved to obtain a desired error tolerance. That is, we have a larger choice of initial points and fewer iterations are also needed to achieve the error tolerance. Special cases and numerical examples are also presented to show these advantages.
Estimating Time-Varying Factor Exposures

We develop a methodology to estimate dynamic factor loadings using cross-sectional risk characteristics, which is especially useful when factor loadings significantly vary over time. In comparison, standard regression approaches assume the factor loadings are constant over a particular window. Applying the methodology to a dataset of U.S.-domiciled mutual funds we distinguish the components of active returns attributable to (1) constant factor exposures, for example, a tilt to value stocks; (2) time-varying factor exposures; and (3) security selection. The decomposition of active returns into these three components yields valuable insight into how managers generate excess returns. We show that there is diversity in factor concentration across managers and styles. For example, large-cap growth funds show the greatest concentration in two factors, momentum and quality, whereas large-cap blend funds have the most factor diversity. Finally, common measures to gauge manager skill may be misleading. For example, we find no evidence that active share is associated with larger active returns; rather the opposite is true across the whole sample when controlling for factors such as fund size and fees.
Ratio-scaling of listener preference of multichannel reproduced sound

Subjective evaluation of sound quality is often conducted using direct scaling methods such as magnitude estimation or category scaling. These methods are attractive at first glance because they are fast and readily yield numerical values. However, the validity of scales thus obtained relies on many implicit assumptions, one of them being the unidimensionality of the underlying sensation continuum. While unidimensionality might hold for simple stimuli, this is a non-trivial assumption in the case of complex spatial sounds. Another assumption is the subjects’ ability to map their sensation magnitude onto a scale. Paired comparisons, on the other hand, require nothing but simple comparative judgments, and thereby eliminate response biases due to scale usage. In addition, from paired comparison judgments, the unidimensionality of the underlying sensation (e. g. the overall preference) can be verified. Finally, a ratio scale can be derived by means of probabilistic choice models such as the Bradley-Terry-Luce (BTL) model [1].
Simple and polarization-independent Dammann grating based on all-dielectric nanorod array

In this work, we comprehensively investigate a Dammann grating (DG) that can generate a 5 × 5 diffraction spot array with an extending angle of 18 ° × 18 ° around the fiber communication wavelength of 1550 nm . The DG is a simple metasurface structure composed of a silicon cuboid nanorod array on a silica substrate, and only two different sizes of nanorods with square cross-sections and uniform spatial orientations are used. These simple units and this configuration are favorable in practice, and the C4 symmetry cross section of the nanorods ensures the polarization-independent operation of the DG. The phase modulation of the nanorods is achieved by the guiding mode propagating in them rather than electric or magnetic Mie-type resonance, which makes the design of the cuboid nanorods easy and robust. More importantly, the two-dimensional nanorod array is generated from a one-dimensional array, which further decreases the design and fabrication complexity.
Hierarchical spatial factor models for Poisson count data

Riassunto: Nel presente lavoro si affronta l’analisi di dati spaziali multivariati non gaussiani, con particolare riferimento al caso in cui le misure rilevate sono costituite da conteggi. Sull’orma delle attuali proposte presenti in letteratura per la modellazione di dati spaziali univariati, si propone di utilizzare modelli fattoriali gerarchici (“generalized linear mixed models”) non Bayesiani. Per la stima dei parametri di questi modelli risultano adattabili alcune delle tradizionali tecniche geostatistiche, mentre mappe dei fattori spaziali latenti non osservabili si possono ottenere utilizzando algoritmi Markov chain Monte Carlo.
Studying the Extragalactic Background Light with the second Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment, CIBER-2

Fluctuations in the extragalactic background light trace emission from the entire history of galaxy formation, including emission from early luminous sources prior to the reionization of the universe. The formation of the first luminous objects represents an important transition in the evolution of the universe from its smooth initial state to the clumpy, highly ordered state observable today. However, these objects are faint and diffuse and not well studied; direct observations of their emission are needed to constrain current numerical simulations of the nonlinear evolution of the early universe. A number of recent near-infrared measurements show excess spatial power at large angular scales inconsistent with models of z The Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment 2 (CIBER-2) will measure spatial anisotropies in the extragalactic infrared background caused by cosmological structure using six broad spectral bands. The experiment uses three 2048 x 2048 Hawaii-2RG near-infrared arrays in three cameras coupled to a single 28.5 cm telescope housed in a reusable sounding rocket-borne payload. A small portion of each array will also be combined with a linear-variable filter to make absolute measurements of the spectrum of the extragalactic background with high spatial resolution for deep subtraction of Galactic starlight. The large field of view and multiple spectral bands make CIBER-2 unique in its sensitivity to fluctuations predicted by models of lower limits on the luminosity of the first stars and galaxies and in its ability to distinguish between primordial and foreground anisotropies. This work encompasses the scientific motivation for CIBER-2 and describes details of the instrument design and verification prior to flight.
Wide field-of-view high lateral resolution optical coherence tomography with 3D image stitching and superresolution

We report that wide field-of-view (FOV) optical coherence tomography images with high lateral resolution can be obtained by using superresolution and 3D image stitching techniques. About 3 times lateral resolution improvement from 6.20 μm to 2.19 μm using a focusing lens of 0.08 numerical aperture has been demonstrated. With such lens the FOV is generally small owing to off-axis focusing degradation. To enlarge the FOV while maintaining high lateral resolution, 3D image stitching technique is introduced to effectively reconstruct an ultra-wide FOV 3D image of 2.10x1. 15 mm2 lateral area from ten C-scans of 500×500 μm2 FOV. Improved FOV with high lateral resolution should benefit various biomedical imaging applications.
Comparison of autoregressive moving average and state space methods for mean monthly time series modelling of river flows in Labrador and South East Quebec

Time series data such as monthly stream flows can be modelled using time series methods and then used to simulate or forecast flows for short term planning. Short term forecasting can be applied, for example, in the hydroelectric industry to help manage reservoir levels at storage dam facilities as well as energy supply throughout the year at run of river facilities. In this study, two methods of time series modelling were reviewed and compared, the Box Jenkins autoregressive moving average (ARMA) method and the State- Space Time-Series (SSTS) method. ARMA has been used in hydrology to model and simulate flows with good results and is widely accepted for this purpose. SSTS modelling is a method that was developed in the 1990s for modelling economic time series and is relatively unused for modelling streamflow time series. The work described herein focuses on modelling stream flows from three selected basins in Labrador and South-East Quebec, the Alexis, Ugjoktok and Romaine Rivers, using these two time series modelling methods and comparing results. The ARMA and SSTS models for each study basin were compared for fit of model, accuracy of prediction, ease of use and simplicity of model to determine the preferred time series methodology approach for modelling the flows in these rivers. The performance of the methods for both the model fit as well as the forecast accuracy was measured using Nash Sutcliffe Coefficient, Median Absolute Percentage Error and Mean Squared Deviation error calculations. It was concluded that the SSTS method for these three rivers produced better fitting models than the ARMA method, but was generally equivalent in prediction accuracy to the ARMA method. The ARMA models, in contrast, were easier to diagnose and could be used to produce flow simulations, which was challenging using SSTS.
THE IMPACT OF PERCEIVED ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE ON EMPLOYEES’ INTENTIONS TO IMPLEMENT MANAGEMENT CONTROL TOOLS IN PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY.

interviews. The relationships found are of a great importance to the decision makers in the Lebanese University. The model Allow for decision makers to draw more attention to the Public higher education in Lebanon. It also allows them to have more contextual interventions, which will might lead to more performance-oriented decisions. The results of the quantitative study will be reported in a second study. The current study allows to draw some managerial recommendations for decision makers. The following of these
A Student-t based sparsity enforcing hierarchical prior for linear inverse problems and its efficient Bayesian computation for 2D and 3D Computed Tomography

In many imaging systems and in particular in X ray Computed Tomography (CT) the reconstruction problem can be written as a linear inverse problem. In these problems, one property which can often be exploited is sparsity of the solution in an appropriate basis. In this work we consider the Student-t model in its hierarchical Normal-Inverse Gamma with an appropriate dictionary based coefficient. Then, thanks to the hierarchical generative model of the observation, we derive the expression of the joint posterior law of all the unknowns and an alternate optimisation algorithm for obtaining the joint MAP solution. We then detail the implementation issues of this algorithms for parallel computation and show the results on real size 2D and 3D phantoms.
The wind-wind collision hole in eta Car

Abstract Eta Carinae is one of the most massive observable binaries. Yet determination of its orbital and physical parameters is hampered by obscuring winds. However the effects of the strong, colliding winds changes with phase due to the high orbital eccentricity. We wanted to improve measures of the orbital parameters and to determine the mechanisms that produce the relatively brief, phase-locked minimum as detected throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. We conducted intense monitoring of the He ii λ4686 line in η Carinae for 10 months in the year 2014, gathering ~300 high S/N spectra with ground- and space-based telescopes. We also used published spectra at the FOS4 SE polar region of the Homunculus, which views the minimum from a different direction. We used a model in which the He ii λ4686 emission is produced by two mechanisms: a) one linked to the intensity of the wind-wind collision which occurs along the whole orbit and is proportional to the inverse square of the separation between the companion stars; and b) the other produced by the ‘bore hole’ effect which occurs at phases across the periastron passage. The opacity (computed from 3D SPH simulations) as convolved with the emission reproduces the behavior of equivalent widths both for direct and reflected light. Our main results are: a) a demonstration that the He ii λ4686 light curve is exquisitely repeatable from cycle to cycle, contrary to previous claims for large changes; b) an accurate determination of the longitude of periastron, indicating that the secondary star is ‘behind’ the primary at periastron, a dispute extended over the past decade; c) a determination of the time of periastron passage, at ~4 days after the onset of the deep light curve minimum; and d) show that the minimum is simultaneous for observers at different lines of sight, indicating that it is not caused by an eclipse of the secondary star, but rather by the immersion of the wind-wind collision interior to the inner wind of the primary.
Anti-aging efficacy of Thai red rice callus cosmetic product

Plant cell culture is an innovative technology to produce bioactive substances and antiaging agents for cosmetic products. Red rice (Oryza sativa) is a special rice cultivar in Thailand that has high procyanidin content in seed coats. In this study, the red rice callus were cultured from rice seeds and extracted with ethanol. The extract contained 0.42 mg GAE/ml for phenolic compounds and 0.21 mg Glu/ml for amino acids. The anti-aging properties of the induced rice callus extract in solution form was evaluated on 28 volunteers, aged 30 – 55 years. The volunteers were separated into 3 groups; placebo (n = 8), 5 % of the induced stem cell extract cream (n = 10), and 5 % of the commercial red rice stem cell extract cream (n = 10). The tested creams were applied on facial skin twice a day for 12 weeks. Skin color, hydration and elasticity were assessed with Mexameter, Corneometer, and Cutometer, respectively. The results showed that anti-aging efficacies of the group treated red rice stem cell extract cream were greater than those of the commercial cream group, which were skin whitening (38.57%, 29.85%), skin moisture (74.62%, 33.48%) and skin elasticity (88.41%, 64.97%), respectively, however, the placebo group remained no change of skin in any parameters. In sensory evaluation, most of volunteers satisfied with product acceptability; appearance, texture, color, odor, moisture, spreadibility, absorption, smoothness, non-greasiness (> 85 %) and also the reduction of visible aging sign (> 90%). The results demonstrate that Thai red rice stem cell extract can be used as an effective anti-aging ingredient for cosmetic products functionalized in skin lightening, hydration and elasticity.
Observation of enhanced radial transport of energetic ion due to energetic particle mode destabilized by helically-trapped energetic ion in the Large Helical Device

A deuterium experiment was initiated to achieve higher-temperature and higher-density plasmas in March 2017 in the Large Helical Device (LHD). The central ion temperature notably increases compared with that in hydrogen experiments. However, an energetic particle mode called the helically-trapped energetic-ion-driven resistive interchange (EIC) mode is often excited by intensive perpendicular neutral beam injections on high ion-temperature discharges. The mode leads to significant decrease of the ion temperature or to limiting the sustainment of the high ion-temperature state. To understand the effect of EIC on the energetic ion confinement, the radial transport of energetic ions is studied by means of the neutron flux monitor and vertical neutron camera newly installed on the LHD. Decreases of the line-integrated neutron profile in core channels show that helically-trapped energetic ions are lost from the plasma.
Study on verifying the angle measurement performance of the rotary-laser system

Abstract. An angle verification method to verify the angle measurement performance of the rotary-laser system was developed. Angle measurement performance has a great impact on measuring accuracy. Although there is some previous research on the verification of angle measuring uncertainty for the rotary-laser system, there are still some limitations. High-precision reference angles are used in the study of the method, and an integrated verification platform is set up to evaluate the performance of the system. This paper also probes the error that has biggest influence on the verification system. Some errors of the verification system are avoided via the experimental method, and some are compensated through the computational formula and curve fitting. Experimental results show that the angle measurement performance meets the requirement for coordinate measurement. The verification platform can evaluate the uncertainty of angle measurement for the rotary-laser system efficiently.
Fitting functions of Jackson type for three-dimensional data

ABSTRACT We study some procedures for the approximation of three-dimensional data on a grid with a hypothesis of periodicity. The first part proposes a generalization of a discrete periodic approximation defined by Dunham Jackson. The functions used have the advantage of owning an analytical explicit expression in terms of the samples (specific values) of the original function or data. In the second part, we describe a continuous approximation function for the same problem, defined through an integral. Some results of the rate of convergence and bounds of the approximation error are presented, with the single hypothesis of Hölder continuity or continuity of the original function.
Flip or flop? Students’ perspectives of a flipped lecture in mathematics

ABSTRACT This paper describes students’ perspectives of a one-off flipped lecture in a large undergraduate mathematics service course. The focus was on calculating matrix determinants and was designed specifically to introduce debate and argumentation into a mathematics lecture. The intention was to promote a deeper learning and understanding through engagement with the added hope of instilling some passion for the subject. During the lecture, students were asked to vote with their feet, literally moving around the lecture theatre to form groups according to their shared favourite technique for calculating matrix determinants. Group discussions were then followed by a whole class debate facilitated by the lecturers, before they wrapped up the lecture by resolving the professional disagreements that had come to light during the debate. Following the lecture, data on student perspectives was gathered using both surveys and focus groups. Within this paper, we share the data and reveal the interesting results that emerged from our analysis. Despite remaining unconvinced as to whether flipped lectures are better for learning, students reported greater engagement and increased understanding of the material covered.