Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gazing behavior exhibited by people with low vision while navigating streets

ABSTRACT “Low vision” is defined as uncorrectable vision loss that interferes with daily activities. The gazing behavior exhibited by people with low vision as they walk is particularly important because it illustrates how they utilize information in various environments. In this study, eight participants with low vision and eight fully sighted participants were asked to navigate a roadway and a sidewalk wearing a mobile eye-tracking device. Their gazing behavior and walking behavior were recorded and analyzed. As a result, on the roadway, participants with low vision walked while fixing their gazes mainly on the road surface and white traffic lines around 10 meters ahead, as well as on the buildings around 39 meters ahead. On the sidewalk, on the other hand, they walked while fixing their gaze on mainly the road surface and tactile paving seven to eight meters ahead, as well as on the buildings around 24 meters ahead. These findings suggest that people with low vision use not only nearby objects but also distant objects as visual cues. In addition, the importance of using continuous road surface markers, such as white traffic lines and tactile paving, to enable people with low vision to walk outdoors safely is suggested. Graphical Abstract
VERY HIGH RESOLUTION LAND USE AND LAND COVER MAPPING USING PLEIADES-1 STEREO IMAGERY AND MACHINE LEARNING

Abstract. Anthropocene is featured with increasing human population and global changes that strongly affect landscapes at an unprecedented pace. As a flagship, the coastal fringe is subject to an accelerated conversion of natural areas into agricultural ones, in turn, into urban ones, generating hazardous soil artificialization. Very high resolution (VHR) technologies such as airborne LiDAR or UAV imageries are good assets to model the topography and classify the land use/land cover (LULC), helping local management. Even if their spatial resolution suits with the management scale, their extent covers a few km2, making large-scale monitoring complex and time-consuming. VHR spaceborne imagery has a great potential to address this spatial challenge given its regional acquisition. This research proposes to evaluate the capabilities of a Pleiades-1 stereo-satellite multispectral imagery (blue, green, red, BGR, and near-infrared, NIR) to both model the surface topography and classify LULC. Horizontal and vertical accuracies of the photogrammetry-driven digital surface model (DSM) attain 0.53 m and 0.65 m, respectively. Nine LULC generic classes are studied using the maximum likelihood (ML) and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms. The classification accuracy of the basic BGR (reaching 84.64 % and 76.13 % with ML and SVM, respectively) is improved by the DSM contribution (5.49 % and 2.91 % for ML and SVM, respectively), and the NIR contribution (6.78 % and 3.89 % for ML and SVM, respectively). The gain of the DSM-NIR combination totals 8.91 % and 8.40 % for ML and SVM, respectively, making the ML-based full combination the best performance (93.55 %).
Weather Conditions and COVID-19 Incidence in a Cold Climate: A Time-Series Study in Finland

Background: The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading globally at an accelerated rate. There is some previous evidence that weather may influence the incidence of COVID-19 infection. We assessed the role of meteorological factors including temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) considering the concentrations of two air pollutants, inhalable coarse particles (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the incidence of COVID-19 infections in Finland, located in arctic-subarctic climatic zone. Methods: We retrieved daily counts of COVID-19 in Finland from Jan 1 to May 31, 2020, nationwide and separately for all 21 hospital districts across the country. The meteorological and air quality data were from the monitoring stations nearest to the central district hospital. A quasi-Poisson generalized additional model (GAM) was fitted to estimate the associations between district-specific meteorological factors and the daily counts of COVID-19 during the study period. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to test the robustness of the results. Results: The incidence rate of COVID-19 gradually increased until a peak around April 6 and then decreased. There were no associations between daily temperature and incidence rate of COVID-19. Daily average RH was negatively associated with daily incidence rate of COVID-19 in two hospital districts located inland. No such association was found nationwide. Conclusions: Weather conditions, such as air temperature and relative humidity, were not related to the COVID-19 incidence during the first wave in the arctic and subarctic winter and spring. The inference is based on a relatively small number of cases and a restricted time period.
Implication du cytosquelette dans les dysfonctions myocardiques : exemple de la cardiomyopathie septique

Le cytosquelette se compose de microfilaments (polymeres d’actine), de microtubules (polymeres de tubuline) et de filaments intermediaires (polymeres de desmine, de lamines …). Le sepsis defini par une infection associee a une reaction inflammatoire systemique est responsable de dysfonctions myocardiques de mauvais pronostique. Cette cardiomyopathie apparait dans les premieres heures du sepsis et guerit en moins de deux semaines chez les survivants. Meme si certaines etudes demontrent l’implication d’elements du cytosquelette dans la cardiomyopathie septique, les roles des microfilaments et des microtubules ne sont pas clairement etablis.Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) est une cytokine pro-inflammatoire secretee en exces dans le sepsis qui serait responsable d’un ralentissement de la recuperation myocardique. Dans un premier temps, notre travail a consiste a caracteriser l’implication des microtubules dans la dysfonction musculaire cardiaque induite par MIF. Dans un modele de trabecules auriculaires droites humaines nous avons demontre que MIF induit une hyperpolymerisation des microtubules responsable d’une hyperviscosite intracellulaire, d’une dysfonction mitochondriale et d’une dysfonction contractile. Nos resultats suggerent qu’une hyperpolymerisation des microtubules induite par MIF pourrait etre responsable d’un ralentissement de la recuperation myocardique a la phase tardive de la myocardiopathie septique. Dans un second temps, nous avons evalue l’implication des microfilaments dans un modele murin de dysfonction myocardique inflammatoire induite par l’injection d’une endotoxine bacterienne, le lipopolysaccharide. Nos resultats suggerent qu’a la phase precoce de la cardiomyopathie inflammatoire il existe une hyperpolymerisation des microfilaments responsable de dysfonctions contractile et mitochondriale.Les connaissances fondamentales acquises au cours de ce travail de these suggerent une implication directe des microtubules et des microfilaments dans la physiopathologie des cardiomyopathies inflammatoires.
The Impact of Unemployment and Non-Standard Forms of Employment on the Housing Autonomy of Young Adults

Young people are facing challenges in transitioning to housing autonomy because of changes in labour market conditions in recent years. This article explores the effects of youth unemployment and non-standard employment on the likelihood of leaving the parental home. We adopt a dynamic modelling approach, and use data from a large longitudinal British survey covering the years 2009–2014. We find that unemployment and part-time work, but not the duration of the contract, have a negative effect on the likelihood of obtaining housing autonomy. We also find that past as well as anticipated unemployment have significant negative effects, which suggests that the decision about whether to move out depends on the individual’s longer-term labour market trajectory. The analysis also reveals gender differences in part-time work, but not in unemployment once we take into account unobserved time-invariant heterogeneity.
Evaluation of two promoters for generating transgenic potato plants as salicylic acid biosensors

Plants are severely affected by many biotic stresses, which cause a reduction in crop quality and quantity. One of the strategies to manage biotic stresses is the generation of transgenic plant lines that can be used as biosensors. These biosensor plants can trigger an early warning upon any pathogen infection. Two promoters with β-glucuronidase reporter gene fusions were constructed. The first contained the flagellin sensing 2 gene promoter, whereas the second contained synthetic promoter containing four repeats of cis-acting elements from the pathogen-related protein 1 gene and two transcription enhancers from the 35S promoter. Transformed leaves were treated with a phytohormone salicylic acid to mimic the occurrence of biotic stress. Validation of reporter gene expression induced from both constructs in transformed potato leaves displayed an increase upon salicylic acid treatment. The results reflect that both constructs could serve in the production of potato biotic stress biosensors.
Validity and Reliability of a Photoelectric Cells System for the Evaluation of Change of Direction and Lateral Jumping Abilities in Collegiate Basketball Athletes

The validity and reliability of the Optojump system were investigated for jumping height and flight time in vertical jump tests. Conversely, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Optojump system for measuring contact time and lateral displacement in change of direction and lateral jump tests. Thirty basketball collegiate athletes were tested on two 10 m sprints with a 60° (COD60) or 180° (COD180) change of direction, lateral controlled (CLRJ) and maximal (MLRJ) rebound jump, and lateral countermovement (LCMJ) and squat (LSJ) jump with the concomitant use of two force plates and the Optojump system for the measurement of contact time in COD60, COD180, CLRJ, MLRJ, and lateral jumping distance in all the lateral jump tests. Almost perfect coefficients (r ≥ 0.95) emerged for contact time in COD60, COD180, CLRJ, MLRJ, although a systematic bias was found for COD60 (−0.01 s). Good-to-excellent reliability was found for almost all the measurements of contact time and lateral jumping distance for change of direction and lateral jump tests. Therefore, the use of Optojump system for testing change of direction and lateral jumping abilities should be executed with caution, avoiding misinterpretation of data.
What we know about management accountants’ changing identities and roles – a systematic literature review

Purpose Academic interest in role changes of management accountants (MAs) has increased during the past two decades. Role changes imply identity reconstructions as they do not only require an external legitimacy, but professionals have to internalize a new role script. Thus, this paper aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing changes concerning MAs by providing an identity perspective. Design/methodology/approach This paper systematically reviews the literature on the changing role of MAs from an identity perspective, based on a conclusive sample of 64 articles. Findings This review identified several external factors such as professional associations and educational institutions as well as organizational and individual factors that impact MAs’ identity and act as change drivers. MAs’ identity is linked with their image in the public and within the organization and is challenged by increasing demands, conflicting expectations and technological progress. Hence, the literature sample illustrates a fragmented and contradictory picture regarding the changes of MAs’ identities and roles and displays that the idea of a simple movement from one identity to another is misleading. Furthermore, the identity perspective offers new issues for management accounting research, practice and education such as nested identity, multiple or desired identities. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to review the literature of MAs’ changing identities and roles from an identity perspective. This perspective enables a novel focus on internal views, perceptions and internalized meanings of MAs connected with their role instead of exclusively debating changed external behavior expectations.
Chlorine Gas vs. Sodium Hypochlorite: What's the Best Option?

Mounting concerns about the safety, effluent toxicity, air emissions, and bioterrorism potential of chlorine gas use are compelling water treatment facilities to explore alternative disinfection systems. hlOrine gas is tOxic and poses dangers to the public and operations staff. Originally, concern was for worker safety and accidental release of chlorine gas, but after sept. 11, new concerns of deliberate attacks on water systems emerged. the Federal Bureau of investigation and the Department of homeland security have raised questions about chlorine gas storage and transportation because of its explosive nature and the use of the gas in explosive " chlorine bombs " in the iraq war. REGULATIONS legislation to bring water utilities under Dhs chemical security rules and regulations may be introduced in congress. such legislation would authorize Dhs to order water utilities to prepare security Vulnerability assessment and site security C Disinfection Jeny Shah and Naeem Qureshi are with Progressive Consulting Engineers (www.pce.com), Minneapolis. Lakeville considered several disinfection alternatives based on its finished water quality and other considerations.
Key Factors in Measuring Ammonia Emissions with Dynamic Flux Chamber in Barns

In this study, measurement methods for estimating the NH3 emissions in barns and the development of different emission factors were reviewed, and the factors to be considered when applying a dynamic flux chamber approach were analyzed. First, one of the factors to be considered when applying the dynamic flux chamber was determined as the stabilization time in the chamber. As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that the concentration in the chamber stabilized after 45 min. This is considered to take longer than the stabilization time of 20 min suggested in the previous study. The second is the choice of the measurement method. This method includes real-time measurement and the indophenol method. As a result of the experiment in both methods, the ammonia flux showed a difference of about 10%, so both methods are considered to be considered. Therefore, it is judged that the methodology should be selected according to the situation, such as weather or electric power secured at the barn site. In the future, if studies on whether the stabilization time in the chamber can be changed according to seasonal factors and ambient temperature, and based on a sufficiently large sample size, the results will contribute to improving the reliability of the estimated ammonia(NH3) emissions and the development of an emissions factor for use in the livestock sector in Korea.
A Research on Water Environment Pollution Status and Water Ecological Governance Measures: The Case of Ningbo City

Water environmental protection and governance is the main content of my country’s ecological civilization construction, the main means of building a clean and beautiful modern ecological city, and an important measure to improve Chinese overall water ecology. Although the importance of water environmental protection and governance in various parts of China continues to increase, the problem of water environment pollution is still very serious. Therefore, we need to increase our in-depth research on its protection and governance strategies. This article briefly analyzes the causes of water pollution in Ningbo City, and proposes corresponding treatment measures in response to the problems, aiming to improve the governance effectiveness of water environment protection in Ningbo City.
Transpiration Rates, Climate and Soil Water Balance of Eucalyptus Grandis Afforestation on Temperate Grasslands in ne Argentina

ABSTRACT Fast-growing Eucalyptus plantations evidence high rates of evapotranspiration. The increasing afforestation rates may affect local soil water balances. In this study, we measured transpiration rates in E. grandis at individual and stand level and we modeled it based on climate variables and soil water storage through a climate time series 1981–2010. We also estimated the aboveground net primary productivity and the water use efficiency based on regional empirical models. Transpiration rates were measured by the constant heat measurement method in 6 to 12 trees in three 100 m2 plots in an 11-year-old plantation. The model fitted suggested that stand transpiration of E. grandis plantation near harvest age is limited by soil water storage and that the water table does not constitute an additional water source. The transpiration of E. grandis plantation was about 800 mm year−1 which approximates 90% and 40% of the annual precipitation in dry and wet years, respectively. Our estimations compared well to other regional studies and suggest that stand transpiration, aboveground net primary productivity, and water use efficiency can be made based on simple climatic variables. A deeper discussion is needed to evaluate the impact of E. grandis transpiration rates at the regional scale.
Correlation of the Dimensions of Organizational Justice and Responsibility in Hospitals

Background and Objectives: organizational justice is employees’ perceptions of fairness and equity in their behaviors and relationships so this perception can be effective in responding to patients. Accordingly, this study aimed to decide the correlation between the dimensions of organizational justice and responsibility at affiliated hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2015. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study performed on 342 patients and staff with direct relation to patients. Niehoff and Moorman’s questionnaire and WHO standard questionnaire used to measure justice and responsibility. Data analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics (t-test, ANOVA and Pearson) with SPSS software. Results: The mean and standard deviation of justice and responsibility was obtained 62.70±15.23 and 105.16 ± 18.75. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between justice dimensions and responsibility so that the weakest and strongest relationship was obtained between "distributive justice and Quality of Basic Amenities" and "interactional justice and dignity". In addition, there was no significant relationship between demographic variables and justice, and only type of insurance and academic degree had a significant relationship with responsibility. Conclusion: The results showed that the level of responsibility could be improved by improving employees' perceptions of justice. This will lead to a better vision of the hospital in the minds of patients, which will increase the ability to attract customers. Therefore, it is recommended to managers to enhance the responsibility by organizational justice, especially equity in resource distribution.
North Atlantic centers of action and seasonal to subseasonal temperature variability in Europe and eastern North America

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is one of the most prominent patterns of atmospheric circulation variability in the Northern Hemisphere. Its climate impacts have been identified for regions extending from North America to northern Asia and the Middle East, with implications for sub‐seasonal variability and, in some cases, meteorological trends over multiple years to decades. The NAO itself, however, is the combined expression of two pressure centers: the Icelandic Low and the Azores High. Previous work has shown that when these “centers of action” (CoA) are separated out and studied they can often provide better insight and explanatory power than the NAO does on its own. Here, we analyse the influence that the CoA have on daily minimum air temperature in winter and daily maximum temperature in summer in eastern North America and Europe. The paper has two goals: (a) to characterize CoA associations with temperature on a range of timescales, including sub‐seasonal analyses that reflect short‐term dynamics of the CoA and that are frequently ignored in NAO teleconnection studies, and (b) to evaluate NAO and CoA influence on temperature across seasons (winter and summer) and in upstream and downstream regions (eastern North America and Europe) using a consistent combination of datasets and methods, in order to contextualize results from prior studies that targeted a single region or season. We find that associations with summertime daily maximum and wintertime daily minimum temperatures are strongest for seasonal averages, but select CoA indices inform explanation of temperature variability at subseasonal timescales. The strength of the Icelandic Low and the location of both CoA show strong associations in winter, while in summer the locations of the CoA show temperature associations that are distinct from and sometimes stronger than those found for CoA strength or NAO indices.
Post-Wildfire Regeneration in a Sky-Island Mixed- Conifer Ecosystem of the North American Great Basin

Information on wildfire impacts and ecosystem responses is relatively sparse in the Great Basin of North America, where subalpine ecosystems are generally dominated by five-needle pines. We analyzed existing vegetation, with an emphasis on regeneration following the year 2000 Phillips Ranch Fire, at a sky-island site in the Snake Range of eastern Nevada. Our main objective was to compare bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva; PILO) post-fire establishment and survival to that of the co-occurring dominant conifers limber pine (Pinus flexilis; PIFL) and Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii; PIEN) in connection with site characteristics. Field data were collected in 40 circular 0.1 ha plots (17.8 m radius) randomly located using GIS so that half of them were inside (“burned”) and half were outside (“unburned”) the 2000 fire boundary. While evidence of previous burns was also found, we focused on impacts from the Phillips Ranch Fire. Mean total basal area, including live and dead stems, was not significantly different between plots inside the burn and plots outside the fire perimeter, but the live basal area was significantly less in the former than in the latter. Wildfire impacts did not limit regeneration, and indeed bristlecone seedlings and saplings were more abundant in plots inside the 2000 fire perimeter than in those outside of it. PILO regeneration, especially saplings, was more abundant than PIFL and PCEN combined, indicating that PILO can competitively regenerate under modern climatic conditions. Surviving PILO regeneration in burned plots was also taller than that of PIFL. By contrast, PCEN was nearly absent in the plots that had been impacted by fire. Additional research should explicitly address how climatic changes and disturbance processes may interact in shaping future vegetation dynamics.
Universal wave phenomena in multiple scattering media

Sanli Faez onderzocht de voortplanting van golven in wanordelijke materialen. Hij bestudeerde, zowel theoretisch als experimenteel, uitingen van Anderson-lokalisatie met klassieke golven, zoals licht en ultrageluid. Anderson-lokalisatie verwijst naar de onderdrukking van diffusie in wanordelijke materie als gevolg van interferentie. Deze overgang van geleider naar isolator werd vijftig jaar geleden ontdekt door Philip Anderson in het kader van elektronentransport in metalen.
A simultaneous decomposition for three quaternion tensors with applications in color video signal processing

In this paper, we establish a simultaneous decomposition for three quaternion tensors via Einstein product. This simultaneous decomposition transforms the given three quaternion tensors into nice forms which have only 1 and 0. We conclude with an application in the color video signal processing. This new approach only needs to store four keys to realize the simultaneous encryption and decryption of three videos.