Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extraction of forest biometrics using airborne LiDAR and WorldView-3 imagery

Forest plays an important role in environmental stability, such as maintain the diversity, provide oxygen, absorb heat, prevent disaster and many more functions. The advance of technology and human irresponsible attitude nowadays harm forest such as illegal logging, deforestation, and forest healthy. Using the convenient method of monitoring forest is almost impossible and required a lot of time to complete while monitoring forest need continuous concentration to detect any changes in forest condition. In this study, the technology of remote sensing and LiDAR are used to help in monitoring and managing forest. This technology is used to extract forest biometric information which is tree height, Diameter at Breast Height (DBH), Leaf Area Index (LAI), and tree crown. In this study, extraction of the Diameter of Breast Height (DBH) cannot be done because there is no information such as age of tree, basal area, and tree circumference. In this study, CHM is calculated based on formula CHM=DSM-DTM. The result of the this study shows the accuracy between tree height of field measurement and LiDAR prediction is 0.666m with a graph of regression show R2=0.99. The result of this study show regression graph between DHP and WorldView-3 has excellent relationships with R2= 0.77.
Complications of Cardiac Catheterization of Neonates, Infants, and Children: A Three‐Year Study

In order to assess the influence of recent modifications in cardiac catheterization technique and patient management, a prospective study of all complications in a series of 1160 cardiac catheterizations of neonates, infants, and children was performed. Thirty-four major and 136 minor complications were recorded. Fatal complications were rare in all age groups (0.26%); however, postcatheterization deaths not attributable to the procedure were common in critically ill neonates with nonremediable lesions.Arrhythmias and arterial complications accounted for 78% of all complications. Although the incidence of arrhythmias was high (8.3% of all cases), particularly in infants, almost all responded to simple therapeutic measures. Five arrhythmias resulted in clinical deterioration and two contributed to death.The incidence of arterial complications varied considerably with the method of arterial entry. Percutaneous catheterization by the sheath method was associated with fewer complications than with the Seldinger technique, arteriotomy, or insertion of a teflon cannula into an exposed artery. Complications were particularly common after brachial arteriotomy in patients with coarctation of the aorta (16.1%). Complications of contrast media and perforation of the heart were infrequent, each occurring once.Although the total number of major complications was only moderately less frequent than in patients of comparable age in the Cooperative Study on Cardiac Catheterization,1 there was a considerable reduction in the most severe complications and deaths. The changes in catheterization technique and patient management that contributed to decreased mortality and morbidity are discussed.
Identification of urocortin III, an additional member of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family with high affinity for the CRF2 receptor

The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of neuropeptides includes the mammalian peptides CRF, urocortin, and urocortin II, as well as piscine urotensin I and frog sauvagine. The mammalian peptides signal through two G protein-coupled receptor types to modulate endocrine, autonomic, and behavioral responses to stress, as well as a range of peripheral (cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and immune) activities. The three previously known ligands are differentially distributed anatomically and have distinct specificities for the two major receptor types. Here we describe the characterization of an additional CRF-related peptide, urocortin III, in the human and mouse. In searching the public human genome databases we found a partial expressed sequence tagged (EST) clone with significant sequence identity to mammalian and fish urocortin-related peptides. By using primers based on the human EST sequence, a full-length human clone was isolated from genomic DNA that encodes a protein that includes a predicted putative 38-aa peptide structurally related to other known family members. With a human probe, we then cloned the mouse ortholog from a genomic library. Human and mouse urocortin III share 90% identity in the 38-aa putative mature peptide. In the peptide coding region, both human and mouse urocortin III are 76% identical to pufferfish urocortin-related peptide and more distantly related to urocortin II, CRF, and urocortin from other mammalian species. Mouse urocortin III mRNA expression is found in areas of the brain including the hypothalamus, amygdala, and brainstem, but is not evident in the cerebellum, pituitary, or cerebral cortex; it is also expressed peripherally in small intestine and skin. Urocortin III is selective for type 2 CRF receptors and thus represents another potential endogenous ligand for these receptors.
Social and physical interactive paradigms for mixed-reality entertainment

This article outlines an overview of new paradigms in social and physical interaction in mixed-reality entertainment. Social and physical interactions are constrained, and thus natural interactions are lost in most current digital entertainment systems. In order to regain natural interactions, we argue that mixed-reality technology has great potential for promoting social and physical interactions. In this article we present five research prototype systems, Magic Land, Human Pacman, Kyoto Garden, Poultry Internet, and Free Network Visible Network (FNVN), to explain methods to regain natural social and physical interactions in mixed-reality entertainment. We believe these systems are part of a new form of entertainment based on physicality, mobility, tangible social interaction, and ubiquitous computing. Some details, benefits, and issues regarding design are discussed.
DIFFERENTIAL UPREGULATION OF TNF-α, IL-6, AND IL-8 PRODUCTION BY DEOXYNIVALENOL (VOMITOXIN) AND OTHER 8-KETOTRICHOTHECENES IN A HUMAN MACROPHAGE MODEL

The effects of deoxynivalenol (DON or vomitoxin) and four closely related 8-ketotrichothecenes on proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production were evaluated in a clonal human macrophage model. U-937 cells, which represent a human monocytelike histocytic lymphoma, were differentiated into macrophages by preincubation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Differentiated macrophages were incubated with DON in the absence or presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and supernatant was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor- f (TNF- f ), and for the chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8). In the absence of LPS, DON at 500 or 1000 ng/ml upregulated TNF- f production as early as 3 h and up to 6 h, whereas 100 to 1000 ng/ml of DON significantly increased production of IL-6 from 3 to 24 h and IL-8 from 6 to 48 h. In cells costimulated with 0.2 µg/ml LPS, DON at 500 or 1000 ng/ml markedly superinduced TNF- f and IL-8 production. Although 100 ng/ml of DON also potentiated LPS-induced IL-6 production, 500 or 1000 ng/ ml of the toxin suppressed the LPS-induced IL-6 response. Four other 8-ketotrichothecenes, fusarenon X, nivalenol, 3-acetyl DON, and 15-acetyl DON, were also capable of upregulating or suppressing TNF- f , IL-6, and IL-8 production at concentrations similar to that of DON. In total, the results suggest that DON and other 8-ketotrichothecenes have the potential to both directly induce and superinduce proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression in human macrophages, even at toxin concentrations that are cytotoxic.
Self-organisation of early stress response in the biology of cancer

The early stress response by AP-1 (FOS/JUN), supported by upregulation of c-Myc and involved in cell-fate changes and adaptation to hostile environments, is increased in cancer. The review shows the biphasic character of this response with negative feed-back typically lasting a few hours as a feature of the genome regulation by self-organising criticality. It involves rapid splitting of the pericentromeric heterochromatin clusters, opening of the active chromatin, and a massive transcription acceleration wave. Phylostratigraphic analysis revealed that AP-1 genes evolved in the Cambrian explosion ~500 Mya integrating the protein interaction networks of reproduction including proto-placenta intertwined with cytokine and immunity pathways, sex determination, oocyte maturation, and embryonal stemness. The peak of this response as part of accelerated cell senescence led by AP-1 and IL-1β was found in breast cancer cell-line resistant to doxorubicin. Adaptability of aggressive cancer to treatments can be explained by emergent stress response evolutionarily protecting reproduction
ASPM mutations identified in patients with primary microcephaly and seizures

Background: Human autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a heterogeneous disorder with at least six genetic loci (MCPH1–6), with MCPH5, caused by ASPM mutation, being the most common. Despite the high prevalence of epilepsy in microcephaly patients, microcephaly with frequent seizures has been excluded from the ascertainment of MCPH. Here, we report a pedigree with multiple affected individuals with microcephaly and seizures. Objective: To identify the gene responsible for microcephaly and seizures in this pedigree. Methods: Clinical assessments of three patients and brain MRIs of two patients were obtained. Genome-wide linkage screen with 10 k SNP microarray, fine mapping with microsatellite markers, and mutational analysis of the genomic DNA were performed on the pedigree. Results: We found that the family was linked to the MCPH5 locus on chromosome 1q31.2–q32.1. We screened ASPM and identified a previously unreported nonsense mutation that introduced a premature stop codon in exon 18 of the ASPM gene. Conclusions: We thus expand the clinical spectrum of ASPM mutations by showing that they can occur in patients with seizures and that the history of seizures alone should not necessarily preclude the diagnosis of primary microcephaly.
Generalized Model Predictive Torque Control of Synchronous Machines

—This study presents a generalized model predictive torque control (GMPTC) scheme that applies to all types of synchronous machines (SMs), which are used for vehicle traction. The GMPTC problem is formulated to simultaneously minimize the torque error and the performance index (PI) while satisfying the voltage and current constraints. The PI can be defined by any function to be minimized to enhance the SM drive’s performance, such as copper loss and inverter loss. When the torque command is not achievable due to either of the constraints, the problem is defined differently to maximize the torque magnitude under the two constraints. The GMPTC problem, a nonlinear optimization problem, is solved based on either a continuous control set (CCS) or finite control set (FCS) using the augmented Lagrangian method. The GMPTC scheme guarantees optimal operation under all operating regions, including the maximum torque per ampere, flux weakening, maximum current, and maximum torque per voltage, even without additional controllers. The GMPTC method is practical and easy to implement because it involves one optimization problem with a small number (four to five) of tuning parameters. This aspect differs from existing model predictive control schemes for SMs that involve an additional optimization, usually solved offline, to obtain optimal references for the stator currents or stator flux linkages. The effectiveness of the proposed GMPTC method is demonstrated numerically and experimentally by controlling interior permanent magnet synchronous machines based on both the CCS and FCS.
Self-Supervised Transmission-Guided Network for Underwater Image Enhancement

Underwater image processing is becoming increasingly popular for improving underwater exploration, including tasks such as underwater terrain scanning and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). However, underwater images often suffer from attenuation, color distortion, and noise, which degrade quality and limit application effectiveness. Moreover, collecting accurate ground truth underwater image datasets for training models is a daunting challenge. Therefore, we propose a new end-to-end underwater image enhancement network based on the synthesis of an underwater dataset. Our primary method involves the generation of a paired underwater dataset and the new transmission-guided model for underwater image enhancement. We transform over-land (or in-air) images into underwater images and enhance the information by incorporating the transmission map, thereby creating a dataset for training end-to-end underwater image enhancement models. In addition, we propose a transmission-guided network to improve image quality and enhance details by fusing the underwater images and the transmission maps. Experimental results have shown that our proposed framework outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in the field of underwater image enhancement.
Predictive Value of RDW/PLT for Progression of COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Potential Biomarker for Disease Severity

Identifying reliable predictors for COVID-19 pneumonia progression is crucial for effective patient management. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Red Cell Distribution Width to Platelet Ratio (RDW/PLT) as a potential predictive biomarker for the development of moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Conducting a retrospective analysis from August 2021 to March 2023, we categorized patients with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia at admission into different severity groups. The objective was to explore clinical and laboratory variables associated with disease progression. Fifty-three patients initially diagnosed with moderate COVID-19 were studied, of which 17 progressed to severe disease. Univariate logistic regression analyzed various factors, including age, PLT, RDW-SD, RDW/PLT, AST, ALB, CRP, and IL-6, evaluating their correlation (P < 0.05) with higher odds ratios of a poor prognosis. To ascertain these factors’ predictive power, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used. Univariate logistic regression highlighted several factors associated with increased odds ratios for poor prognosis. Notably, RDW/PLT exhibited the highest predictive value (AUC: 0.925, 95% CI 0.858–0.991) among single parameters in predicting the risk of COVID-19 progression. This study underscores the potential of RDW/PLT as an accessible and cost-effective biomarker for determining COVID-19 pneumonia severity. The findings support its utility in risk stratification and clinical decision-making, offering valuable insights for effective patient management strategies.
Virtual machine-provided context sensitive page mappings

Context sensitive page mappings provide different mappings from virtual addresses to physical page frames depending on whether a memory reference occurs in a data or instruction context. Such differences can be used to modify the behavior of programs that reference their executable code in a data context. Previous work has demonstrated several applications of context sensitive page mappings, including protection against buffer-overrun attacks and circumvention of self-checksumming codes. We extend context sensitive page mappings to the virtual machine monitor, allowing operation independent of the guest operating system. Our technique takes advantage of the VMM's role in enforcing protection between guest operating systems to interpose on guest OS memory management operations and selectively introduce context sensitive page mappings. In this paper, we describe extensions to the Xen hypervisor that support context sensitive page mappings in unmodified guest operating systems. We demonstrate the utility of our technique in a case study by instrumenting and modifying self-checksumming tamper-resistant binaries. We further demonstrate that context sensitive page mappings can be provided by the VMM without incurring extensive overhead. Our measurements indicate only minor performance penalties stem from use of this technique. We suggest several further applications of VMM-provided context sensitive page mappings, including OS hardening and protection of processes from malicious applications.
the Edge: Watching Internet from the

The Internet and the way people use it are constantly changing. Knowing traffic is crucial for operating the network, understanding users’ need, and ultimately improving applications. Here, we provide an in-depth longitudinal view of Internet traffic in the last 5 years (from 2013 to 2017). We take the point of the view of a national-wide ISP and analyze flow-level rich measurements to pinpoint and quantify trends. We evaluate the providers’ costs in terms of traffic consumption by users and services. We show that an ordinary broadband subscriber nowadays downloads more than twice as much as they used to do 5 years ago. Bandwidth hungry video services drive this change, while social messaging applications boom (and vanish) at incredible pace. We study how protocols and service infrastructures evolve over time, highlighting unpredictable events that may hamper traffic management policies. In the rush to bring servers closer and closer to users, we witness the birth of the sub-millisecond Internet, with caches located directly at ISP edges. The picture we take shows a lively Internet that always evolves and suddenly changes.
Modulation of enzymatic activities of Escherichia coli DnaB helicase by single-stranded DNA-binding proteins

The modulation of enzymatic activities of Escherichia coli DnaB helicase by homologous and heterologous single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) and its DNA substrates were analyzed. Although DnaB helicase can unwind a variety of DNA substrates possessing different fork-like structures, the rate of DNA unwinding was significantly diminished with substrates lacking a 3' fork. A 5 nt fork appeared to be adequate to attain the maximum rate of DNA unwinding. Efficient helicase action of DnaB requires the participation of SSBs. Studies involving heterologous SSBs demonstrated that they can stimulate the helicase activity of DnaB protein under certain conditions. However, this stimulation occurs in a manner distinctly different from that observed with cognate E.coli SSB. The E.coli SSB was found to stimulate the helicase activity over a wide range of SSB concentrations and was unique in its strong inhibition of single-stranded DNA-dependent ATPase activity when uncoupled from the DNA helicase activity. In the presence of a helicase substrate, the ATPase activity of DnaB helicase remained uninhibited. Thus, E.coli SSB appears to coordinate and couple the ATPase activity to the DNA helicase activity by suppressing unproductive ATP hydrolysis by DnaB helicase.
RELP-vocoding with uniform and non-uniform down-sampling

Residual-excited base-band vocoders (RELP-vocoders) are known to be one of the better alternatives for speech vocoding in the range 4.8 to 9.6 kbit/s. This paper proposes non-uniform decimation as one candidate for improving the quality of RELP vocoders. Both fixed and adaptive schemes for the time-varying decimation are discussed. It is shown that an adaptive decimation allows for coding the full band residual if desired. In fact the decimation can be used to adaptively allocate bits in accordance with the instantaneous spectrum. The work is concentrated on developing the possibilities of non-uniform down-sampling and a fully optimized implementation requires further work. Preliminary listening tests indicate that the methods proposed do improve the subjective quality significantly.
Principal Leadership and School Performance: An Integration of Transformational and Instructional Leadership

Focusing on school leadership relations between principals and teachers, this study examines the potential of their active collaboration around instructional matters to enhance the quality of teaching and student performance. The analysis is grounded in two conceptions of leadership—transformational and instructional. The sample comprises 24 nationally selected restructured schools—8elementary, 8middle, and 8high schools. In keeping with the multilevel structure of the data, the primary analytic technique is hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). The study finds that transformational leadership is a necessary but insufficient condition for instructional leadership. When transformational and shared instructional leadership coexist in an integrated form of leadership, the influence on school performance, measured by the quality of its pedagogy and the achievement of its students, is substantial.
A framework for characterization and analysis of software system scalability

The term scalability appears frequently in computing literature, but it is a term that is poorly defined and poorly understood. The lack of a clear, consistent and systematic treatment of scalability makes it difficult to evaluate claims of scalability and to compare claims from different sources. This paper presents a framework for precisely characterizing and analyzing the scalability of a software system. The framework treats scalability as a multi-criteria optimization problem and captures the dependency relationships that underlie typical notions of scalability. The paper presents the results of a case study in which the framework and analysis method were applied to a real-world system, demonstrating that it is possible to develop a precise, systematic characterization of scalability and to use the characterization to compare the scalability of alternative system designs.
Multilocus nuclear sequences reveal intra‐ and interspecific relationships among chromosomally polymorphic species of cactophilic Drosophila

Drosophila mojavensis and Drosophila arizonae, a pair of sibling species endemic to North America, constitute an important model system to study ecological genetics and the evolution of reproductive isolation. This species pair can produce fertile hybrids in some crosses and are sympatric in a large part of their ranges. Despite the potential for hybridization in nature, however, evidence of introgression has not been rigorously sought. Further, the evolutionary relationships within and among the geographically distant populations of the two species have not been characterized in detail using high‐resolution molecular studies. Both species have six chromosomes: five large acrocentrics and one ‘dot’ chromosome. Fixed inversion differences between the species exist in three chromosomes (X, 2 and 3) while three are colinear (4, 5 and 6), suggesting that were introgression to occur, it would be most likely in the colinear chromosomes. We utilized nucleotide sequence variation at multiple loci on five chromosomes to test for evidence of introgression, and to test various scenarios for the evolutionary relationships of these two species and their populations. While we do not find evidence of recent introgression, loci in the colinear chromosomes appear to have participated in exchange in the past. We also found considerable population structure within both species. The level of differentiation discovered among D. arizonae populations was unexpectedly high and suggests that its populations, as well as those of D. mojavensis, may be themselves undergoing incipient speciation and merit further attention.