Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Classification of multi-source satellite images for large scale land cover mapping

Satellite remote sensing imagery represents an attractive data source to monitor large regions with frequent updates. In this context, the operational production of accurate land cover maps plays an important role in global-scale environmental assessments and becomes crucial for a wide range of research domains. New earth observation missions such as Sentinel provide images with high spatial and temporal resolution. Accordingly, new image classification methods for the generation of reliable land cover maps are needed. In the framework of the Sentinels Synergy for Agriculture (SENSAGRI) project at \textit Centre d'Etudes Spatial de la Biosphere (CESBIO) in Toulouse (France), this work aims to describe new schemes for detecting crop areas along the agricultural season. The research has focused on performing statistical fusion at decision-level to combine classification results in order to exploit the synergies between Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 image times series.
Flourishing and Functional Difficulties among Autistic Youth: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health for Children and Youth outlines body structures and functions and activities and participation to fully describe elements that support or detract from participation. While flourishing has gained attention in recent literature, research also points to the role of functional difficulties among autistic youth in influencing participation. Clearly, function is a multi-dimensional and complex construct and likely consists of both indicators of flourishing and functional difficulties. We used data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) from 2016 to 2020 to identify aspects of flourishing functional difficulties to achieve the following aims: (1) Investigate the factor structure of flourishing and functional difficulties among autistic youth ages 10–17 years; and (2) examine the extent to which child variables (i.e., sex, age, race, ethnicity, autism severity, poverty) are associated with flourishing and functional difficulties. Autistic children (n = 2960) between the ages of 10 and 17 years were included. We used confirmatory factor analysis followed by a multivariate general linear model (GLM) to examine the association between child variables and factors. Results indicated a six-factor structure (medical conditions, instrumental activities of daily living, activities of daily living, social competence, behavioral control, and school motivation) with good model fit (root mean square error of approximation = 0.08 [p = 0.926], comparative fit index = 0.94, Tucker–Lewis index = 0.91). Multivariate GLM showed that child factors were differentially and significantly associated with factors of functional difficulties and flourishing. Current findings suggest that 16 items measured by the NSCH result in a six-factor structure of flourishing and functional difficulties among autistic youth. A comprehensive approach to capture function among autistic youth must assess aspects of flourishing and difficulties.
Design and Assessment of a Personalized Online Mathematics Learning System with Self-Regulated Learning Features: An Educational Design Research

A personalized online learning system incorporating a self-regulated learning approach was developed to deliver the factorization in quadratic polynomials topic on mathematics learning. This system created four learning materials for learning a certain topic in mathematics, corresponding to the students’ characteristics. This study followed the education design research approach to develop a self-regulated-based personalized online learning system and evaluate the system from a technology acceptance perspective. The Pearson correlation was computed and revealed the best fit of the collected data for further stepwise multiple regression analysis through students’ acceptance of learning mathematics before and after using the developed system. Furthermore, the Chi-square test was performed to determine the acceptance change and frequency rated by items to ensure an in-depth understanding of how acceptance changed before and after. Although the findings revealed that students’ perceived ease of use was primarily a predictor of their attitude about the system, they showed an increment in perceived usefulness after participating in the developed system. The students’ perceptions of ease and attitude toward the self-regulated-based personalized online learning system for mathematics learning should be mainly considered in further development, including the different learning approaches for supporting mathematics learning.
THEMIS‐VIS Investigations of Sand at Gale Crater

Gale crater is the landing site of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, Curiosity. Here we present Thermal Emission Imaging System Visible Imaging Subsystem (THEMIS‐VIS) mosaics in gray scale and in false color of Gale crater. We use these data products, in addition to THEMIS thermal infrared decorrelation stretch (DCS) mosaics, thermal inertia derivations, and near‐infrared spectra to investigate the MSL traverse area and sand across Gale crater. We identified several THEMIS‐VIS color units in the MSL traverse area that may correlate to the amount of sand cover that is present on each unit. This suggests that THEMIS‐VIS color is extremely useful in identifying dark basaltic sand, which appears as blue in THEMIS‐VIS false color images. We test this hypothesis by identifying small (~several pixels) blue patches on the southeast side of the central mound in Gale crater and confirming that they are patches of sand in High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) images. Sand dunes on the crater floor exhibit variations in all data sets utilized in this study, with the Bagnold dunes and the western sand sea exhibiting the most notable differences. We propose that these differences are the result of a thin layer of dust that covers the western sand sea, although we do not rule out possible effects from grain size sorting.
Effect of two recombinant bovine somatotropin formulations on feeding behavior and metabolism of Holstein cows

This study evaluated the effect of two commercial forms of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST; Later® and Fast®; 500 mg) on feed variability, feeding behavior, zootechnical parameters, and milk production of Holstein cows after peak production. Eighteen cows were randomly divided into two groups and treated with injectable of rbST every 14 days for 70 days. Blood samples were collected on day 1, 4, and 7 of each cycle, to assess circulating levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Weight and body condition score (BCS) assessments were performed. Milk yields were measured daily using the DelPro™ software (DeLaval®). Feed consumption and feeding behavior was obtained daily using automatic individual feeders (Intergado®). No difference was observed in dry matter intake (DMI) between groups (P=0.07), and no impact was noted on dietary variability (P=0.64). In addition, animals treated with rbST-Fast exhibited more frequent visits to feeders, longer time in consumption, and higher relative DMI (per percentage of live weight) (P<0.01). Animals in the rbST-Fast group produced more milk than those in the rbST-Later group (P=0.03). Furthermore, the weight of the cows was significantly different (P=0.05) between groups. The weight of the rbST-Fast animals was smaller and varied more than thot of the rbST-Later animals (P <0.01). Nonetheless, no difference was noted in BCS (P=0.30) between the groups. The animals in the rbST-Fast group had higher concentrations of NEFA than those in the rbST-Later group (P<0.01). In conclusion, behavioral and metabolic shifts that sustained greater milk production in the cows receiving rbST-Fast. Nonetheless, these shifts are likely linked to lipomobilization and not dietary variability or consumption, as evidenced by the increase in NEFA and greater weight loss in that group.
Fluvial and aquatic applications of Structure from Motion photogrammetry and unmanned aerial vehicle/drone technology

Structure from motion (SfM) has seen rapid uptake recently in the fluvial and aquatic sciences. This uptake is not least due to the widespread availability of cheap unmanned aerial vehicles/drones, which help mitigate the challenging terrain and deliver efficient and reproducible and high‐accuracy images and topographical data. These data can have unprecedented spatio‐temporal coverage and includes measurements of fluvial and aquatic topography, hydraulics, geomorphology and habitat quality. SfM data also offer novel quantification of underwater archeology, structures and aquatic organisms. Studies are shifting from proof‐of‐concepts in topographic survey to genuine applications including grain‐size mapping, bathymetric surveys, geomorphological mapping, vegetation mapping, restoration monitoring, habitat classification, geomorphological change detection and sediment transport path delineation. Integrating point cloud analyses and orthophoto mosaics with digital elevation models has been shown to be effective in providing novel process understanding of fluvial and aquatic systems. Underwater and through‐water studies are beginning to overcome problems of accessibility, visibility and image distortion. Archival photographs and video (both above‐ and under‐water) are being reprocessed using a SfM workflow to generate three‐dimensional surfaces and objects from historical surveys, thereby extending the time period over which change can be detected. Recently, a SfM workflow has been developed to model free water surfaces with clear potential for future exploitation in hydraulics, sediment transport and river bed evolution studies. Future applications of SfM could seek to exploit the daily repeat coverage of high‐resolution satellite images but must be mindful of the necessary investment in this development versus the increasing availability and coverage of spaceborne light detection and ranging.
Are Driving Forces of Co2 Emissions Different Across Countries?: Insights from Identity and Econometric Analyses

This paper investigates factors behind the growth of carbon dioxide emissions over the 35 years between 1980 and 2015 in more than 100 countries, using an index decomposition technique (the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index). The results are further confirmed using an econometric technique (the general method of moments). The study finds that economic growth, measurred in per capita gross domestic product, and population growth are the main drivers of the growth of carbon dioxide emissions during 1980–2015. Although economic growth is mainly responsible for the growth of emissions in high-, upper-middle-, and lower-middle-income countries, population growth that is primarily responsilble for it in low-income countries. More than 70 percent of the global growth in carbon dioxide emissions over the past 35 years was contributed by upper-middle-income countries. Improved energy efficiency, reflected in the declining energy intensity of gross domestic product, has substantially contributed to limit global carbon dioxide emissions at the current level; otherwise, the world's current carbon dioxide emissions would have been 40 percent higher. Despite the recent rapid expansion of renewable energy, its contribution to slowing the growth of global carbon dioxide emissions is not noticeable yet, due to its small share in the global energy supply mix.
Human-Driven Effect on the Escape Responses of Two Commercially Important Coastal Fish Species

Human-Driven Effect on the Escape Responses of Two Commercially Important Coastal Fish Species Objective: In this study we investigated the behavioral responses of two coastal Mediterranean sea breams (Diplodus sargus and Diplodus vulgaris) to the potential threat represented by an approaching diver. Methods: Fish reaction to diver presence was assessed using flight initiation distance (FID) as behavioral metric. During each scuba diving trial, we also recorded i) fish size and group size, ii) fish behavior before and after the flight, iii) the abiotic context (depth and bottom slope) at the sighting location. Results: Our results indicated that FID of D. sargus, which is more heavily targeted by spearfishers, was higher than that of D. vulgaris. In both species, no significant linear relationships between FID and body size, group size and depth were detected. The preflight behavioral patterns exhibited by these species were quite similar. “Tacking” was the most common behavior observed where fish halted activity and slowly swam away from the observer. The escape in open water was the most frequently adopted post-flight behavior by both species. The proportion of fish hiding into a shelter after fleeing was higher in D. sargus than D. vulgaris. Conclusion: The knowledge of the human-driven modifications in the behavior of sea breams and other exploited species using FID measurements is a valuable tool to inform management about the impact of certain anthropic activities (e.g. spearfishing) on these resources and to assess the effectiveness of enforced protection measures.
Quantifying the Impact of Environment Loads on Displacements in a Suspension Bridge with a Data-Driven Approach

Long-span bridges are susceptible to damage, aging, and deformation in harsh environments for a long time. Therefore, structural health monitoring (SHM) systems need to be used for reasonable monitoring and maintenance. Among various indicators, bridge displacement is a crucial parameter reflecting the bridge’s health condition. Due to the simultaneous bearing of multiple environmental loads on suspension bridges, determining the impact of different loads on displacement is beneficial for the better understanding of the health conditions of the bridges. Considering the fact that extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) has higher prediction performance and robustness, the authors of this paper have developed a data-driven approach based on the XGBoost model to quantify the impact between different environmental loads and the displacement of a suspension bridge. Simultaneously, this study combined wavelet threshold (WT) denoising and the variational mode decomposition (VMD) method to conduct a modal decomposition of three-dimensional (3D) displacement, further investigating the interrelationships between different loads and bridge displacements. This model links wind speed, temperature, air pressure, and humidity with the 3D displacement response of the span using the bridge monitoring data provided by the GNSS and Earth Observation for Structural Health Monitoring (GeoSHM) system of the Forth Road Bridge (FRB) in the United Kingdom (UK), thus eliminating the temperature time-lag effect on displacement data. The effects of the different loads on the displacement are quantified individually with partial dependence plots (PDPs). Employing testing, it was found that the XGBoost model has a high predictive effect on the target variable of displacement. The analysis of quantification and correlation reveals that lateral displacement is primarily affected by same-direction wind, showing a clear positive correlation, and vertical displacement is mainly influenced by temperature and exhibits a negative correlation. Longitudinal displacement is jointly influenced by various environmental loads, showing a positive correlation with atmospheric pressure, temperature, and vertical wind and a negative correlation with longitudinal wind, lateral wind, and humidity. The results can guide bridge structural health monitoring in extreme weather to avoid accidents.
Coastal Hypoxia in the Jinhae Bay, South Korea: Mechanism, Spatiotemporal Variation, and Implications (based on 2011 survey)

ABSTRACT Lim, J.-H. ; Lee, S.H. ; Park, J.; Lee, J.; Yoon, J.-E. , and Kim, I. -N, 2018. Coastal Hypoxia in the Jinhae Bay, South Korea: Mechanism, Spatiotemporal Variation, and Implications (based on 2011 survey). In: Shim, J.-S. ; Chun, I. , and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 1481–1485. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Hypoxia (dissolved oxygen ≤2 mg L−1), which occurs frequently in coastal regions due to eutrophication, is a serious environmental problem in marine ecosystems. The areal extent of hypoxic regions has increased globally in recent decades. Jinhae Bay (JB) on the southeastern coast of South Korea has suffered from seasonal hypoxia due to increased anthropogenic activities since the 1970s. However, no intensive study has examined hypoxia in JB, although it is a scientific, social, and economic concern. We conducted monthly hydrographic surveys of JB in 2011 and present the mechanism of the hypoxia and its spatiotemporal variation there. The advent of hypoxic waters in the JB was initiated locally by the combination of developing stratification and increased benthic (bottom waters + sediments zone) remineralization in early June. From mid-July to early September, the hypoxia extended to the entire region, despite constant organic matter content in the benthic layer, due mainly to strong stratification, resulting in stagnant water circulation. During September, the hypoxia was maintained by a combination of physical and biogeochemical effects, although the areal extent of the hypoxic regions was substantially reduced. Overall, the hypoxia was present from early June until late September, with monthly spatiotemporal variation. The hypoxic waters tended to have low pH values, indicating an association with coastal acidification. JB, a small coastal region, suffers from serious environmental problems that urgently need our attention.
A Tunable Inverter-Based, Low-Voltage OTA for Continuous-Time ΣΔ ADC

Inverter-based implementation of operational-transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) is an attractive approach for low-voltage realization of analog sub-systems. However, the high sensitivity of inverter-like amplifiers performance to process and temperature variations limits the achievable performance of the whole system, across process and temperature corners. In this paper, a tuning technique is proposed to maintain inverter-based amplifier performance across process and temperature corners without requiring additional voltage headroom than that required by the inverter circuit. The introduced technique is used to implement a third order continuous-time (CT) ΣΔ analog-to-digital converter (ADC). A 74 dB signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SNDR) is achieved, for a signal bandwidth of 64 kHz at a sampling frequency of 6.4 MHz, while consuming 400 μA from 0.8 V, supply, in 65 nm CMOS technology.
Securing Data in Storage: A Review of Current Research

Protecting data from malicious computer users continues to grow in importance. Whether preventing unauthorized access to personal photographs, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, or ensuring the integrity of corporate secrets, all applications require increased security to protect data from talented intruders. Specifically, as more and more files are preserved on disk the requirement to provide secure storage has increased in importance. This paper presents a survey of techniques for securely storing data, including theoretical approaches, prototype systems, and existing systems currently available. Due to the wide variety of potential solutions available and the variety of techniques to arrive at a particular solution, it is important to review the entire field prior to selecting an implementation that satisfies particular requirements. This paper provides an overview of the prominent characteristics of several systems to provide a foundation for making an informed decision. Initially, the paper establishes a set of criteria for evaluating a storage solution based on confidentiality, integrity, availability, and performance. Then, using these criteria, the paper explains the relevant characteristics of select storage systems and provides a comparison of the major differences.
A New Look at the Easy-Hard-Easy Pattern of Combinatorial Search Difficulty

The easy-hard-easy pattern in the difficulty of combinatorial search problems as constraints are added has been explained as due to a competition between the decrease in number of solutions and increased pruning. We test the generality of this explanation by examining one of its predictions: if the number of solutions is held fixed by the choice of problems, then increased pruning should lead to a monotonic decrease in search cost. Instead, we find the easy-hard-easy pattern in median search cost even when the number of solutions is held constant, for some search methods. This generalizes previous observations of this pattern and shows that the existing theory does not explain the full range of the peak in search cost. In these cases the pattern appears to be due to changes in the size of the minimal unsolvable subproblems, rather than changing numbers of solutions.
Finite automata, palindromes, patterns, and borders

Given a language L and a nondeterministic finite automaton M , we consider whether we can determine efficiently (in the size of M) if M accepts at least one word in L, or infinitely many words. Given that M accepts at least one word in L, we consider how long the shortest word can be. The languages L that we examine include the palindromes, the non-palindromes, the k-powers, the non-k-powers, the powers, the non-powers (also called primitive words), the words matching a general pattern, and the bordered words. Along the way, we improve a bound of Horváth, Karhumäki and Kleijn on the shortest non-palindrome.
Generic Global Constraints based on MDDs

Constraint Programming (CP) has been successfully applied to both constraint satisfaction and constraint optimization problems. A wide variety of specialized global constraints provide critical assistance in achieving a good model that can take advantage of the structure of the problem in the search for a solution. However, a key outstanding issue is the representation of 'ad-hoc' constraints that do not have an inherent combinatorial nature, and hence are not modeled well using narrowly specialized global constraints. We attempt to address this issue by considering a hybrid of search and compilation. Specifically we suggest the use of Reduced Ordered Multi-Valued Decision Diagrams (ROMDDs) as the supporting data structure for a generic global constraint. We give an algorithm for maintaining generalized arc consistency (GAC) on this constraint that amortizes the cost of the GAC computation over a root-to-leaf path in the search tree without requiring asymptotically more space than used for the MDD. Furthermore we present an approach for incrementally maintaining the reduced property of the MDD during the search, and show how this can be used for providing domain entailment detection. Finally we discuss how to apply our approach to other similar data structures such as AOMDDs and Case DAGs. The technique used can be seen as an extension of the GAC algorithm for the regular language constraint on finite length input.
Robust Quantum Algorithms and Polynomials

We study the complexity of robust quantum algorithms. These still work with high probability if the n input bits are noisy. We exhibit a robust quantum algorithm that recovers the complete input with high probability using O(n) queries. This implies that every n-bit function can be quantum computed robustly with O(n) queries, which contrasts with Feige et al.’s Ω(n logn) classical bound for PARITY. We also give similar bounds on the degrees of multilinear polynomials that robustly approximate Boolean functions.