Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A NEW APPROACH FOR SEGMENTATION-BASED TEXTURING OF LASER SCANNING DATA

In recent years, laser scanning systems have been recognized as a fast and accurate technology for the acquisition of high density spatial data. The advent of these systems has reduced the cost and increased the availability of accurate 3D data for mapping, modelling, and monitoring applications. The original laser scanning data does not explicitly provide meaningful information about the characteristics of the scanned surfaces. Therefore, reliable processing procedures are applied for information extraction from these datasets. However, the derived surfaces through laser scanning data processing cannot be effectively interpreted due to the lack of spectral information. To resolve this problem, a new texturing procedure is introduced in this paper to improve the interpretability of laser scanning-derived surfaces using spectral information from overlapping imagery. In this texturing approach, individual planar regions, derived through a laser scanning data segmentation procedure, are textured using the available imagery. This texturing approach, which aims to overcome the computational inefficiency of the previously-developed point-based texturing techniques, is implemented in three steps. In the first step, the visibility of the segmented planar regions in the available imagery is checked and a list of appropriate images for texturing each planar region is established. An occlusion detection procedure is then performed to identify the parts of the segmented regions which are occluding/being occluded by other regions in the field of view of the utilized images. In the second step, visible parts of planar regions are decomposed into parts which should be textured using individual images. Finally, a rendering procedure is performed to texture these parts using available images. Experimental results from real laser scanning dataset and overlapping imagery demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach for texturing laser scanning-derived surfaces using images.
Herbal extract (Ficus racemosa) restores the damages of diabetic pancreas both at gross and cellular levels: an in vivo study in mice

An in vivo investigation on the gross and cellular changes of the pancreas of Swiss albino mice treated with Ficus racemosa extract was carried out at the Bioresearch Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Twenty (20) Swiss albino mice (Mus musculus, age: 4-5 weeks, weight 25-28g, purchased from ICDDR,B) were used for this experiment and were grouped (each group has 5 mice) as the control group (C), diabetic control group (DC), glibenclamide treated group (GL) and Ficus racemosa extract treated group (FR) and provided with feed (standard mice pellets purchased from ICDDR,B) and water ad libitum. Diabetes mellitus was induced by single intra-peritoneal injection of freshly prepared solution of alloxan monohydrate (150mg/kg body weight) dissolved in physiological saline in overnight fasted mice. The ethanolic extracts of Ficus racemosa fruit (250mg/kg body weight) was administered orally once daily for 30 days in comparison to a standard antidiabetic drug, glibenclamide (600μg/kg body weight). The uniformity of all the management practices was also maintained. The total experimental tenure was 30 days. At the end of the experiment, mice were ethically sacrificed and necessary samples were collected from the pancreas and were preserved, processed for slide preparation and stained (H & E stain) for histomorphological investigation. Pancreas of the normal control group showed no morphological changes, whereas, both the colour and shape were significantly changed in the diabetic control group. The alteration was effectively restored in the standard anti-diabetic drug (glibenclamide) treated group as well as the Ficus racemosa extract treated group. Histologically, necrosis in the islets and focal acinar damages, found in the diabetic pancreas were restored to normal in the Ficus racemosa extract treated groups, and were significantly related to that of the effect produced by standard antidiabetic drug, glibenclamide. Therefore, it is assumed that the Ficus racemosa extract might be used as an anti-diabetic drug or as an adjuvant in the diabetic therapy. Results might aid to explore a frontier, inexpensive, safe and effective anti-diabetic drug in future.
Entry, Exit, and Farm Size: Assessing an Experiment in Dairy Price Policy

This article models and estimates the forces behind farm exits and changes in herd-size among Connecticut dairy farms under the New England Dairy Compact. A model of sunk costs and farm capital investment is used to specify two econometric estimations: a random effects probit model of farm entry and exit and an autocorrelated generalized least squares panel data model of farm size. The Dairy Compact's price strategy reduced farm exits and moderately increased cow numbers. In contrast, development pressures and historically low unemployment rates increased farm exits. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.
Spatial and temporal coherence between Amazon River discharge, salinity, and light absorption by colored organic carbon in western tropical Atlantic surface waters

[1] The temporal evolution and spatial distribution of surface salinity and colored detrital matter (cdm) were evaluated within and adjacent to the Amazon River Plume. Study objectives were as follows: first, to document the spatial coherence between Amazon discharge, salinity, cdm, and the nature of the salinity-cdm relationship; second, to document the temporal and spatial variability of cdm along the trajectory of the low-salinity Amazon Plume, and third, to explore the departure of cdm from conservative mixing behavior along the plume trajectory into the open ocean. Time series (2003–2007) of surface salinity estimated using the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer–Earth Observing System and corresponding satellite cdm absorption (acdm) data documented a plume of freshened, colored water emanating from the Amazon. Salinity and acdm were generally coherent, but there were regions in which spatial patterns of salinity and acdm did not coincide. Salinity was oppositely phased with discharge, whereas acdm was in phase but lagged discharge and typically remained high after maximum discharge. Along the river plume trajectory, acdm was inversely correlated with salinity, yet there was considerable deviation from conservative mixing behavior during all seasons. Positive anomalies in a linear relationship between salinity and acdm corresponded to areas of enhanced satellite-retrieved net primary productivity, suggesting the importance of phytoplankton biomass or its subsequent remineralization as a source of cdm. Negative anomalies tended to predominate at the distal sections of the plume trajectories, an observation consistent with the process of photo-oxidation of cdm over observed time scales of days to weeks.
The impact of the text and background color on the screen reading experience

Everyday use of modern technologies implies the need for an optimization of readability and legibility parameters used for the reading of text on screen. A lot of research on readability and legibility in printed materials and digital media has been conducted. It has been noted that the rules for the optimal readability and legibility do not apply equally to both mediums. The choice of proper typeface and font size, foreground and background colour, line spacing, sentence length, and text difficulty have the biggest role in text legibility. There is a tendency in our speaking area to read black text on a white background, which is a standard colour combination in printed materials. Furthermore, many studies have concluded that the above mentioned colour combination is one of the best when it comes to achieving optimal text readability and legibility. The purpose of this study was to test the readability and legibility of text on a computer screen by taking into consideration the different colour combinations of text and background. The factors listed above were used to define the text sample. In this research, for each of the five groups tested, the colour of the text and background were varied, while the content and other parameters of the text sample were constant.
Evolutionary Reinforcement Learning: A Cyclical Approach

Evolutionary algorithms and reinforcement learning techniques are two popular approaches to solving optimization problems. This paper examines a way of combining these methods in a cyclical form such that each one can feed off the progress of the other. This offers a unique method of introducing diversity to help avoid finding local minima. The problem domain chosen herein is trivial, but the concepts could easily be extended for future work.
Elucidation of the In-vitro products of 25H-NBOMe using S9 liver preparation: A preliminary investigation

In recent years it has become increasingly important for toxicology laboratories to understand the metabolism of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) to facilitate their identification in forensic and medical contexts. Abuse of the potent hallucinogenic NBOMe-type NPS, colloquially known as “N-bomb” has become prevalent in recent years. There are many different forms of these synthetic phenethylamines including 25I, 25C and 25B-NBOMe. The focus of this research is to establish optimised in vitro methods for the formation of 25H-NBOMe metabolites and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques to identify them. It was hypothesised that the metabolic transformations undergone by 25H-NBOMe would parallel those previously reported for other NBOMe variants. 25H-NBOMe was incubated with human S9 liver preparation; a liver post-mitochondrial supernatant, thus simulating in vivo xenobiotic metabolism. The metabolic products were extracted, and the chromatographic profile was generated via LC-QTOF-MS. Demethylated and hydroxylated products were identified resulting from Phase I biotransformation. In incubation mixtures containing acetyl CoA, UDP glucuronic acid and phosphoadenosine phosphosulfate, the presence of conjugates generated by the Phase II processes, acetylation, glucuronidation, and sulfation were explored. Neither glucuronides nor sulfate or acetyl conjugates were detected. Potential sites on the NBOMe molecule for demethylation, hydroxylation are discussed.
DIURETIC ACTIVITY OF A SIDDHA DRUG: PUNARNAVASAVAM

The effectiveness of a polyherbal formulation PUNARNAVASAVAM (PVM) prepared from 21 herbs viz Chukku, Kurumulaku, Thippali, Nellika, Maramanjal, Aamankkiver, ect. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the polyherbal formulation (PVM) shows the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins and phytosterols, which are responsible for various pharmacological activities. For the evaluation of the formulations Lipschitz et al method was employed. The flavonoids present in this formulation is confirmed as quercetin by preparative PV with UV spectral studies. The data proved that PVM has considerable diuretic effect as compared to the standard (P< 0.01).
Issues relating to the implementation of lesson study in the Malaysian education context

This qualitative study explored the implementation of Lesson Study, a kind of teacher-directed approach of Japanese model of teacher pedagogical development in the Malaysian education context. It seeks to answer a research questions: what are the school-based factors that support or hinder the implementation of lesson study in the Malaysian education context? Multiple data sources were gathered through in-depth interviews, observations, group discussions and reflections as well as participants‟ journal writing. Data sources were gathered through in-depth interviews and observation.Analysis of the qualitative data indicated that the lesson study has provided an encouraging opportunity and venue for the respondent to collaborate, discuss and share their teaching experiences in managing their lesson.As lesson study was a relatively new culture of teacher learning, various constraints and challenges were encountered in implementing the lesson study. On a micro level, there were three constraints, namely time, teachers‟ workload and the perception of teaching observation.On a macro-level, this study implied two main challenges: (i) the lack of teachers‟ awareness of professional development, and (ii) the examination-oriented culture rooted in the education system.However, when provided with sufficient supporting factors such as positive support from the school administrators, committed and dedicated group leader and strong collegiality among the lesson study team, then lesson study could be successfully implemented as an effective and innovative mode of teacher professional learning.
Schwann Cells Promote Tumor Cell Invasion Through Regulation of the Laminin Receptor α6β1

Neurotropic cancers including pancreatic and prostate cancer utilize nerves as a major route of metastasis in a process known as nerve invasion (NI). During NI, tumor cells invade the perineurium of nerves and into the endoneural space where tumor cells contact Schwann cells responsible for secretion of laminin extracellular matrix proteins and myelination of peripheral nerve axons. The laminin binding cell adhesion receptor 6 1 is expressed on tumor cells undergoing NI and cleavage of 6 1 by urokinase plasminogen activator to form the variant 6p 1 promotes tumor cell invasion. Here, we demonstrate that conditioned media from immortalized S16 and S16Y Schwann cells, which are of the myelinating and non-myelinating morphology respectively, regulate 6p 1 formation and tumor invasion of neurotropic tumor cell lines. The results demonstrate that S16Y conditioned medium inhibited invasion and 6 conversion to 6p in DU145, CFPAC1 and PC3 cancer cells while S16 conditioned medium increased 6p expression and tumor cell invasion. The increased invasion mediated by the S16 cells was dependent on 6p 1 since a function-blocking antibody, targeting 6p 1 formation inhibited invasion. Taken together these results suggest that myelinating Schwann cells in the nerve environment promote 6 1 receptor dependent tumor cell nerve invasion.
Annotated Bibliography: Poverty and Chronic Poverty in Uganda, CPRC Working Paper No. 34, CPRC Annotated Bibliographies No. 1

The world’s nomadic herders, mainly in Africa, the Middle East, and South, Southwest, and Central Asia, number in the tens of millions and are among the poorest and most vulnerable population groups. Reaching them with formal schooling is difficult, and millions of nomadic pastoral children remain outside the education system. This situation will continue until more effective ways are found to bridge the gap between what formal education systems teach and what pastoral children need to know. This research project will investigate alternative approaches to education for nomadic pastoralists. It aims to improve the understanding of the relationship between culture, indigenous knowledge, social institutions, and poverty in the context of nomadic pastoralism, and to identify the conditions under which more effective schooling could be provided for those wishing to remain in the pastoral livelihood system. The research will focus on adjacent areas of northern Uganda and northern Kenya. Building on a literature review on nomadic education commissioned by the World Bank’s livestock group, the research will investigate three questions: • How is indigenous knowledge embedded in social organizations? • What are the outcomes of formal education for nomadic pastoralists, particularly its effect on social capital? • What alternative approaches to education could better equip pastoralists to fight poverty? 4 The research is expected to lead to a better understanding of how indigenous knowledge is linked to social structure and economic expectations, how to integrate indigenous knowledge and formal education in efforts to prepare nomadic pastoralists for a future within the pastoral economy or outside it, and what policies and interventions governments, the World Bank, and other development agencies might pursue to do so.
Nonuse of Public Leisure Services: A Model

The issue of nonparticipation in public leisure services is explored through the presentation of a model and the examination of data from two recent, studies within the framework of this model. Lack of awareness was found, within both studies, to be a prevalent condition among nonparticipants. An argument is made that combating lack of awareness is more cost-effective method of increasing participation than attempting to alter services to enable participation by those who know about such services but are prevented from participating.
Identification of zingiber components by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer and semi-empirical calculations

The important used of Zingiber in different fields such as medicine and foods, this leads to study the physical and chemical properties of its components. The chemical components in Zingiber officinale Roscoe were identified by gas chromatograph/ mass spectrometer (GC/MS) with electron ionization mode. The major components of Zingiber under investigation namely: (1) Pentadecanoic acid (2) 1,3-Dioxepane, 2-pentadecyl (3) 4H-Pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl (4) gingerol. Electron ionization mass spectra of these compounds have been obtained and investigated. In addition, the semi-empirical (MNDO) method was used to calculate some physical and thermochemical properties for the structural of these compounds such as total energy, electronic energy, ionization energy, heats of formation, proton affinity and dipole moments which might to predict the activity and behavior of these compounds.
THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE SUCCESS OF NATURAL REGENERATION EFFORTS IN KASTAMONU-ARAÇ REGION’S BLACK PINE (Pinus nigra Arnold. subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) STANDS

In this study, where the habitat and the factors affecting the success of natural regeneration efforts performed in different years in Arac region have been investigated has been completed in year 2012. Within the scope of research, in order to determine the most important factors affecting the success of the black pine natural regeneration efforts, the factor analysis was utilized. As a result of factor analysis, it has been found that physiographic conditions, physical soil properties, organic matter, climate, and outer soil status factors affect the success of regeneration efforts.
Prochlorococcus growth rate and contribution to primary production in the equatorial and subtropical North Pacific Ocean

DNA synthesis and cell division of Prochlorococcus are tightly synchronized to the daily light cycle, therefore, cell division rates can be estimated from the fraction of cells in each cell cycle stage during a 24 h sampling period. The total mortality rate of Prochlorococcus can also be estimated from the difference between the observed cell abundance and the expected cell number projected from growth rate in that sampling period, providing an estlmate of grazing impact. Growth and mortality rates of Prochlorococcus were investigated at 2 statlons In the equatorial Pacific, as well as Station ALOHA in the subtropical North Pacific Ocean. Growth rate of Prochlorococcus remained high at all sites independent of the nitrate concentration. The maximum growth rate (up to 1 doubling d-') occurred at 70 m depth at the western equatorial Pacific site (166' E) and at 40 to 45 nl at the eastern equatorial Pacific site (150' W) and at Station ALOHA (22" 45' N, 158' W). Total mortality rates were roughly balanced by Prochlorococcus growth at all stations. Because of the phased cell cycle and continuous (if not evenly distributed) mortality, the abundance of Prochlorococcus at each depth could vary up to 2-fold between afternoon and midnight. Prochlorococcus production was estimated to contribute 9 and 39% to the total gross primary production in the eastern and western equatorial Pacific, respectively, and up to 82% in the subtropical North Pacific Ocean at Station ALOHA. Our results suggest Prochlorococcus are not severely nutrient-limited in the oligotrophic environment. Rapid nutrient recycling by grazing activity permits Prochlorococcus to contribute a significant fraction of the total primary production.
Rationalising inefficiency in agricultural production -the case of Swedish dairy production

Inefficiency in agricultural production is generally interpreted as waste in the use of production factors. We challenge this interpretation by providing an explanation for why apparent inefficiency may result from rational production decisions by farmers and demonstrating systematics in the inefficiency patterns amongst the production factors that lend support for this, i.e. the rational inefficiency hypothesis. Based on a multidirectional efficiency analysis of 421 Swedish dairy farms and statistical analyses of the inefficiency patterns, we provide support for the existence of rational inefficiency. These findings have clear implications for policy schemes aiming at pushing farms towards the efficient production frontier.
Alterations in the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis in animals submitted to early-life trauma

Introduction: Changes in maternal care can affect offspring’s thyroid hormone T3 levels. Pups from highly caring mothers have higher levels of thyroid hormone T3. In humans, physical abuse in childhood is related to lower levels of T3 in adolescence. This study aimed at verifying if early-life trauma in rodents is correlated with T3 levels in adulthood. Methods: From the second day of life, litters of Wistar rats were subjected to reduced nesting material (Early–Life Stress-ELS) or standard care (Controls). In adult life, the animals were chronically exposed to standard diet or standard diet + palatable diet and plasma T3 levels were measured before and after the exposition to diet. Results: Thyroid hormone T3 levels in adult life correlated negatively with the licking and grooming (LG) scores in the ELS group. This correlation disappeared when the animals had the opportunity to choose between two diets chronically. Conclusion: The adverse environment affected maternal behavior and caused marks on the metabolism of the intervention group (T3), which were reverted by chronic palatable food consumption. Keywords: Trauma; T3; stress
Bayesian networks as a tool to assess the multiple effects of agricultural policies in rural areas

Many economic analysis tools are used to evaluate the effects of policies on rural development. However, a number of unexplored options are still available from the literature about policy analysis and biophysical systems representations. A particularly important need concerns the representation of the complexity of rural systems either in a static or dynamic framework In this paper we use Bayesian networks, to the best knowledge of the authors, basically ignored by the literature on rural development. The objective of this paper is to discuss the potential use of Bayesian Networks tools to represent the impact of the Common Agricultural Policies in rural areas.
Economic Freedom and the Environment for Economic Growth

Modern growth theory, built on the foundation of Solow [1956], emphasizes growth in inputs and technological advances as the underlying causes of economic growth. More recent work has emphasized the importance of market institutions and economic freedom as prerequisites for growth. This paper empirically examines the importance of economic freedom by using an index that measures economic freedom in four basic areas - money and inflation, economic structure, takings and discriminatory taxation, and international trade. The empirical results show that economic freedom is a significant determinant of economic growth, even when human and physical capital, and demographics are taken into account. (JEL: O 40)