Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR 3D MODELLING OF HIGH-ALPINE ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract. High-alpine areas are subject to rapid topographic changes, mainly caused by natural processes like glacial retreat and other geomorphological processes, and also due to anthropogenic interventions like construction of slopes and infrastructure in skiing resorts. Consequently, the demand for highly accurate digital terrain models (DTMs) in alpine environments has arisen. Public administrations often have dedicated resources for the regular monitoring of glaciers and natural hazard processes. In case of glaciers, traditional monitoring encompasses in-situ measurements of area and length and the estimation of volume and mass changes. Next to field measurements, data for such monitoring programs can be derived from DTMs and digital ortho photos (DOPs). Skiing resorts, on the other hand, require DTMs as input for planning and – more recently – for RTK-GNSS supported ski-slope grooming. Although different in scope, the demand of both user groups is similar: high-quality and up-to-date terrain data for extended areas often characterised by difficult accessibility and large elevation ranges. Over the last two decades, airborne laser scanning (ALS) has replaced photogrammetric approaches as state-of-the-art technology for the acquisition of high-resolution DTMs also in alpine environments. Reasons include the higher productivity compared to (manual) stereo-photogrammetric measurements, canopy-penetration capability, and limitations of photo measurements on sparsely textured surfaces like snow or ice. Nevertheless, the last few years have shown strong technological advances in the field of aerial camera technology, image processing and photogrammetric software which led to new possibilities for image-based DTM generation even in alpine terrain. At Vermessung AVT, an Austrian-based surveying company, and its subsidiary Terra Messflug, very promising results have been achieved for various projects in high-alpine environments, using images acquired by large-format digital cameras of Microsoft’s UltraCam series and the in-house processing chain centred on the Dense-Image-Matching (DIM) software SURE by nFrames. This paper reports the work carried out at AVT for the surface- and terrain modelling of several high-alpine areas using DIM- and ALS-based approaches. A special focus is dedicated to the influence of terrain morphology, flight planning, GNSS/IMU measurements, and ground-control distribution in the georeferencing process on the data quality. Based on the very promising results, some general recommendations for aerial photogrammetry processing in high-alpine areas are made to achieve best possible accuracy of the final 3D-, 2.5D- and 2D products.
MMT-PLGA NANOCOMPOSITES AS AN ORAL AND CONTROLLED RELEASE CARRIER FOR 5-FLUOROURACIL: A NOVEL APPROACH

Objective of the present study is to develop MMT based PLGA nanocomposites of oral and controlled release carrier of 5-Fluorouracil. Double emulsion solvent evaporation method was used for nanocomposite synthesis and effect of medical clay MMT on encapsulation efficiency has been evaluated. The synthesized 5FU-PLGA-MMT nanocomposites were compared with respect to morphology, particle size, physical status of 5FU and MMT, and in vitro drug release to the corresponding biodegradable PLGA nanoparticles. Intercalation of polymer-drug moiety within the MMT layers has been supported by XRD data. Particle size of synthesized nanocomposites was found in the range of 100-200 nm, a favorable size for cellular uptake. In vitro drug release profiles of 5FU-PLGA-MMT nanocomposites in simulated gastrointestinal fluid, indicates a controlled release of 5-Fluorouracil as compared to 5FU-PLGA nanoparticles and pure 5FU for a period of 8 hours. The delivery of 5FU by MMT based PLGA nanocomposites suggest the possibility of designing the oral and controlled release formulations to minimize the drug administration frequency and hence improve the patient compliance.
Differences in morphology, performance and behaviour between recently diverged populations of Podarcis sicula mirror differences in predation pressure

We investigated the possible role of variation in predation pressure in the phenotypic divergence of two island populations of the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis sicula . In 1971, ten adult specimens from the island of Pod Kopiste (Adriatic Sea, Croatia) were transported to the island of Pod Mrcaru, 3.5 km east, where they founded a new population. Although the two islands resemble each other in general physiognomy (size, elevation, microclimate) and in the absence of terrestrial predators, lizards from the newly established population are now on average larger and have shorter hind limbs. They also exhibit lower maximal sprint speed as measured on a racetrack, and fatigue faster when chased in a torus track. In the field, lizards from the original population of Pod Kopiste respond to a simulated predatory attack by fleeing at larger approach distances and by running further from the predator than lizards from Pod Mrcaru. These changes in morphology, behaviour and performance may result from the relaxed predation intensity on the latter island. Our analysis of the structural features of the microhabitats suggests that the vegetation on Pod Mrcaru offers more protection to lizards. Also, plasticine models of lizards, laid out on the islands, less often exhibited signs of being attacked by birds on Pod Mrcaru than on Pod Kopiste. Our findings provide an example of how changes in (possibly a single) environmental factor may simultaneously produce responses in behaviour, morphology and whole-animal physiology, and this on a surprisingly small spatial and temporal scale.
Condoning Aggressive Behaviour in Sport: A Comparison between Professional Handball Players, Amateur Players, and Lay People

The present study examined the cognitive processes by which persons who are differently involved in the practice of sport judge the extent to which an aggressive act performed by a player during a match in handball could be condoned. Thirty professional handball players, 35 amateur handball players, and 48 non-sporting individuals indicated this “condonability” in 48 scenarios. The scenarios were all combinations of 5 factors: (a) the consequences of the aggression (the victim is injured and must leave the game or the victim is not injured), (b) the current score (the team is winning or the team is losing), (c) the time left to play (very little time or quite some time), (d) the context of the aggression (the aggressor has been the victim of a previous act of aggression or not), (e) the relative importance of the game (friendly match or competitive match or European match). For 62% of the participants, violently pushing an opponent was considered as practically never condonable. For 38% of the participants, this behaviour was sometimes condonable. Professional handball players (60%), more frequently than lay people (27%) or amateurs (34%), supported the view that pushing an opponent can sometimes be condonable. Different positions on moral judgment were observed according to the involvement in the practice of sport.
Investigating the link between early season Caribbean rainfall and the El Niño + 1 year

The Caribbean rainfall season is best characterized by its bimodal nature, with an initial peak in May–June and a second more prominent one in September–October. This allows for a convenient division into an early and a late rainfall season. In this study we examine the rainfall patterns of the early rainfall season (mid April to July) for links with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. Whereas traditionally ENSO events have been identified with dry conditions during the later Caribbean rainfall season, recent research suggests a second signal that manifests itself as a wet early rainfall season of the year of ENSO decline (the El Niño + 1 year). Two leading empirical orthogonal function modes of early season Caribbean rainfall are examined for evidence of this. Strong correlations are shown to exist between the first mode and wintertime equatorial Pacific anomalies. The first mode explains nearly half of the early season variability. The idea that the wintertime Pacific anomalies alter the early Caribbean rainfall season via the warm spring sea surface temperature anomalies they induce in the north tropical Atlantic is also investigated. An atmospheric general circulation model is also used to show that, when warm/cold anomalies exist across the north tropical Atlantic, this results in a large‐scale atmospheric circulation that is more/less favourable to rainfall production over the Caribbean. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society.
Adjusting of Wind Input Source Term in WAVEWATCH III Model for the Middle-Sized Water Body on the Basis of the Field Experiment

Adjusting of wind input source term in numerical model WAVEWATCH III for the middle-sized water body is reported. For this purpose, the field experiment on Gorky Reservoir is carried out. Surface waves are measured along with the parameters of the airflow. The measurement of wind speed in close proximity to the water surface is performed. On the basis of the experimental results, the parameterization of the drag coefficient depending on the 10 m wind speed is proposed. This parameterization is used in WAVEWATCH III for the adjusting of the wind input source term within WAM 3 and Tolman and Chalikov parameterizations. The simulation of the surface wind waves within tuned to the conditions of the middle-sized water body WAVEWATCH III is performed using three built-in parameterizations (WAM 3, Tolman and Chalikov, and WAM 4) and adjusted wind input source term parameterizations. Verification of the applicability of the model to the middle-sized reservoir is performed by comparing the simulated data with the results of the field experiment. It is shown that the use of the proposed parameterization improves the agreement in the significant wave height from the field experiment and from the numerical simulation.
An Investigation into the Relationship between Implicit Narcissism and Problematic Social Media Use

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Implicit Narcissism (IM) and Problematic Social Media use (PSMU) in an attempt to bridge the gap in current literature; the researcher also aimed to gain an understanding of the relationship when demographic variables were accounted for. Methodology: Implicit narcissism was measured using the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS), the second scale utilised was the Social Media Disorder Scale (SMD). Both scales have been examined and rated highly for internal reliability and validity. Results: A strong positive significant relationship was found between Implicit Narcissism and Problematic Social Media Use; this relationship was still present following a linear multiple regression accounting for demographic factors such as age and gender. Conclusion: The results show that implicit narcissism is positively associated with problematic social media use, however further research is needed to determine causation and explore the possibility of confounding variables.
Priority research areas for ecosystem services in a changing world

Summary 1. Ecosystem services are the benefits humans obtain from ecosystems. The importance of research into ecosystem services has been widely recognized, and rapid progress is being made. However, the prevailing approach to quantifying ecosystem services is still based on static analyses and single services, ignoring system dynamics, uncertainty and feedbacks. This is not only partly due to a lack of mechanistic understanding of processes and a dearth of empirical data, but also due to a failure to engage fully with the interdisciplinarity of the problem. 2. We argue that there is a tendency to ignore the feedbacks between and within both social and ecological systems, and a lack of explicit consideration of uncertainty. Metrics need to be developed that can predict thresholds, which requires strong linkages to underlying processes, while the development of policy for management of ecosystem services needs to be based on a broader understanding of value and drivers of human well-being. 3. We highlight the complexities, gaps in current knowledge and research, and the potentially promising avenues for future investigation in four priority research areas: agendas, processes, metrics and uncertainty. 4. Synthesis and applications. The research interest in the field of ecosystem services is rapidly expanding, and can contribute significantly to the sustainable management of natural resources. However, a narrow disciplinary approach, or an approach which does not consider feedbacks within and between ecological and social systems, has the potential to produce dangerously misleading policy recommendations. In contrast, if we explicitly acknowledge and address uncertainties and complexities in the provision of ecosystem services, progress may appear slower but our models will be substantially more robust and informative about the effects of environmental change.
Evidence of chromosome fusion in Gymnotus sylvius Albert & Fernandes-Matoli, 1999 (Teleostei: Gymnotiformes) detected by telomeric probes and R-banding

Abstract Gymnotus cf. carapo and Gymnotus sylvius are two fish species inhabiting the Upper Parana River Basin, presenting respectively 2n = 54 and 2n = 40 chromosomes. In the present cytogenetic analysis, R-banding and telomere-sequence hybridization were carried out in order to determine the possible relationship between the karyotipes of these two species. Incorporation bands (R-bands) obtained for the two species allowed the identification of chromosome similarities, showing to be an usefull alternative to the G-banding methods, which fail in producing satisfying results in most of analyzed fish species. This approach, associated with the hybridization of telomeric sequences, permited to identify chromosomal rearrangements that could be used as indicators of karyotypic evolution within the group. In the present case, telomeric sequences were detected in the centromeric region of two metacentric chromosome pairs of Gymnotus sylvius. The results obtained after hybridization with the telomere sequences, coupled with the chromosome homeologies detected by R-banding, showed that G. cf. carapo and G. sylvius should present a common ancestor, and this may also be corroborated by the similarities found in three chromosome pairs, that seem to have been conserved during the evolution of the two species. Based on the data here presented we propose that G. sylvius may have undergone a recent process of chromosome fusion that resulted in the diminution of its chromosome number.
Sensing Properties of Nanocrystalline Silicon Carbide in Wet Condition

Silicon carbide is a well-known material with high thermal and chemical stability. In this work, we present an investigation on the chemoresistive properties of nanostructured Silicon Carbide (SiC). A commercially available nanopowder of silicon carbide was first purified and then its morphology, structure and thermal stability was characterized. Afterwards, the powder was mixed with suitable organic vehicles and screen-printed onto alumina substrates. SiC thick films were tested as chemoresistive gas sensors in thermo-activation mode. In this way, they were exposed to 13 gases belonging from different chemical classes. The sensing characterization showed that this semiconductor is an extremely selective functional material for the detection of sulphur dioxide (SO2) at temperature higher than 600°C, useful for harsh environments. Also, the sensing properties of SiC sensors were strongly improved by the presence of humidity. The sensing mechanism was also investigated and a possible interpretation has been proposed.
OPTIMAL CONTROL AND STOCHASTIC UNIFORM OBSERVABILITY

G.Da Prato and I. Ichikawa solved in (3) the quadratic control problem (1), (2), under stabilizability and detectability conditions. We replace the detectability condition with the uniform observability property and we obtain an optimal control and the minimal value of the cost functional (2). So, we generalize the results obtained by T.Morozan in (7) for flnite dimensional case and we also conclude that our result is distinct from the one of G.Da Prato and I. Ichikawa. We use the above results to give a method for the numerical computation of the optimal cost. Under the same hypotheses we solve the tracking problem (1), (3).
Assessment of Chemical and Antioxidant Properties of Fresh and Dried Rosehip (Rosa canina L.)

This work aimed to evaluate the nutritional and functional properties of rosehip from Serbia. In respect to that, the content of twenty-three elements in the rosehip along with the soil were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy and the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was calculated. The total dry matter, water activity, and the contents of vitamin C, total phenolics and flavonoids were determined. The antioxidant ability of fresh and dried samples was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The obtained extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry techniques. In addition, assessment of the impact of thermal treatment on the chemical composition of rosehip was observed. The study revealed that the most abundant elements in rosehip were K, Ca, Mg, P and S with 2963.0, 1820.0, 709.0, 495.0 and 289.8 mg/kg, respectively. The highest BAF values in the system rosehip/soil were for S, K and P. Contents of ascorbic acid, total phenolics, total flavonoids and the antioxidant activity were reduced after the drying process by 56.3%, 20.4%, 31.3%, 21.9%, respectively. Nevertheless, dried rosehip was still a rich source of bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant activity. The presented results support traditional use of rosehip as food with health and nutritional benefits.
Exchange rate volatility: Trader's beliefs and the role of news

The study of financial market volatility has focused on the unexpected and expected components of news (Vortelinos, 2015; Omrane and Hafner, 2015). We incorporate the role of biases arising from the 'availability' of recent outcomes to the traders, in influencing trading decisions. The theory of heuristics (Tversky and Kahneman, 1974) is used to build on the theory of trader's biases which helps to understand the reasons behind market volatility. Empirically the model is tested with five minute data on USD/INR and time stamped news from the US and Indian markets. We find that volatility is likely to be in higher ranges with increase in trader's biases, corresponding to unexpected news component. GARCH analysis of returns of average bid-ask rates shows that unexpected news, expected news and bias corresponding to expected news lead to increased volatility.
Optimizing culturing conditions using factorial experimental design for culturing of SSEA4+/CD34- cells isolated from human cardiac tissue

Cardiac disease is one of the major causes of death worldwide and current treatment aims at reducing further loss of viable tissue and treating symptoms rather than replenish lost cardiomyocytes in response to cardiac pathology. Therefore, finding an alternative method for treating cardiac disease is of essence. Recently cardiac progenitor cells were found residing in the adult human heart capable of cardiac regeneration. Isolation and in vitro cardiomyocyte differentiation of such cells would provide a potential platform for cardiac regeneration. The SSEA4+/CD34- cardiac progenitor cell population have previously shown signs of cardiac commitment, but no stable culture system have yet been suggested. The major aim of this Master’s Thesis project was therefore to establish a stable culture system for primary isolated SSEA4+/CD34- cells present in the adult human heart. Real time quantitative PCR was used to confirm the cardiac commitment of the SSEA4+/CD34- population, based on expression of cardiac-specific genes and to determine the medical relevance of such cells in comparison to differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells. It was also determined that short-term culturing of all isolated cells before sorting the population of interest using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, rather promoted endothelial commitment amongst cultured cells. Initial differentiation of SSEA4+/CD34- cells using the GiWi protocol published by Lian et. al. did not yield cardiomyocytes, but rather CD31 mRNA specific for endothelial cells was slightly increased while cardiac specific mRNA was maintained. Factorial experimental design was used to determine the relevance of each medium component to maintain primary isolated SSEA4+/CD34- cells. Statistical analysis in MODDE 10.1 showed the model to be unfitted and of low significance, both when using primary isolated cells and pre-ordered iCell CPCs, making all obtained results uncertain. A great variance could also be seen between samples, which could be limited by reducing model size through limiting the number of factors included in the model for future experiments. Thereby the relevance of each factor can be determined with certainty, allowing implementation of a stable culture system for primary isolated SSEA4+/CD34- cells, which potentially could be beneficial for future cardiac regeneration strategies.
Impact of Biochar Amendment on Fertility of a Southeastern Coastal Plain Soil

Agricultural soils in the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain region have meager soil fertility characteristics because of their sandy textures, acidic pH values, kaolinitic clays, low cation exchange capacities, and diminutive soil organic carbon contents. We hypothesized that biochar additions will help ameliorate some of these fertility problems. The study objectives were to determine the impact of pecan shell-based biochar additions on soil fertility characteristics and water leachate chemistry for a Norfolk loamy sand (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic typic Kandiudults). Soil columns containing 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% (wt/wt) biochar were incubated at 10% (wt/wt) moisture for 67 days. On days 25 and 67, the columns were leached with 1.2 to 1.4 pore volumes of deionized H2O, and the leachate chemical composition determined. On days 0 and 67, soil samples were collected and analyzed for fertility. The biochar had a pH of 7.6, contained 834.2 and 3.41 g kg−1 of C and N, respectively, and was dominated by aromatic C (58%). After 67 days and two leaching events, biochar additions to the Norfolk soil increased soil pH, soil organic carbon, Ca, K, Mn, and P and decreased exchangeable acidity, S, and Zn. Biochar additions did not significantly increase soil cation exchange capacity. Leachates contained increasing electrical conductivity and K and Na concentrations, but decreasing levels of Ca, P, Mn, and Zn. These effects reflect the addition of elements and the higher sorption capacity of biochar for selective nutrients (especially Ca, P, Zn, and Mn). Biochar additions to the Norfolk soil caused significant fertility improvements.
A High-Performance Parallel FDTD Method Enhanced by Using SSE Instruction Set

We introduce a hardware acceleration technique for the parallel finite difference time domain (FDTD) method using the SSE (streaming (single instruction multiple data) SIMD extensions) instruction set. The implementation of SSE instruction set to parallel FDTD method has achieved the significant improvement on the simulation performance. The benchmarks of the SSE acceleration on both the multi-CPU workstation and computer cluster have demonstrated the advantages of (vector arithmetic logic unit) VALU acceleration over GPU acceleration. Several engineering applications are employed to demonstrate the performance of parallel FDTD method enhanced by SSE instruction set.