Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Convolutional Neural Network to Recognize Learning Images for Early Warning of At-Risk Students

This article proposes two innovative approaches, the one-channel learning image recognition and the three-channel learning image recognition, to convert student's course involvements into images for early warning predictive analysis. Multiple experiments with 5235 students and 576 absolute/1728 relative input variables were conducted to verify their effectiveness. The results indicate that both methods can significantly capture more at-risk students (the highest average recall rate is equal to 77.26%) than the following machine learning algorithms—support vector machine, random forest, and deep neural network—in the middle of the semester. In addition, the innovative approaches allow minor subtypes of at-risk student identification and provide visual insights for personalized interventions. Implications and future directions are also discussed in this article.
Influence of Male and Female Quality on Clutch Size in Tits (Parus Spp.)

Field experiments were designed to examine the effects of parental ability on clutch size, for the two sexes separately. To handicap parental ability we removed feathers from the wings and the tail of three tit species (Parus spp.) during the initial incubation period. We then removed their first clutches, and examined the effect of the handicap on the subsequent nesting. In Blue Tits (P. caeruleus), and Coal Tits (P. ater), handicapped females reduced the size of the repeat clutch more than control females. In Blue Tits handicapped females fed their young at a lower rate, lost more body mass during the nestling period, and at fledging time their broods were significantly smaller than those of controls. Their fledglings had a body mass, similar to the control fledglings. Handicapped female Great Tits (P. major) only reduced their clutch size a small amount; consequently, at fledging time, their body mass and those of their young were lower than for controls. The males of the three species of tits did not seem to increase parental investment when their mate was handicapped. When male Blue and Coal Tits were handicapped their mates did not reduce clutch size more than did those of the control group, despite a reduction in parental investment by handicapped males. However, breeding success was not significantly affected by handicapping males. We conclude that the clutch size determination of female tits is primarily based on their own ability to feed their young, and not on the quality of their mate. Male tits seem to have a lesser influence on breeding success than females, and males seem less willing or less able to increase their parental investment.
A Circularly Polarized Dielectric Resonator Antenna and Its Reconfigurable Design

In this letter, a circularly polarized antenna featured with a low profile, wideband, and high gain is investigated. The antenna, looking like a classical stacked microstrip patch antenna (MPA), is essentially a stacked dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) with high permittivity thin dielectric slabs introduced instead of metallic patches. With this structure, the antenna can take advantages of both MPA and DRA, showing superior performance than either of them. On this basis, a polarization-reconfigurable antenna version is further proposed with three polarization states of right-handed (RH), left-handed (LH) circular polarization (CP) and linear polarization. For demonstration, antenna prototypes were fabricated and measured. Reasonable agreement between the measured and simulation results is observed.
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Management of Graf IIa Dysplastic Hip

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) describes a wide range of anatomic abnormalities of the growing hips which might result in permanent abnormal gait. Therefore, early detection and management is crucial to improve the outcome and minimise the risk of osteoarthritis in later life. Hip ultrasound is used to evaluate DDH based on Graf classification. Graf score is a widely used ultrasound grading score to evaluate DDH in infants. There is conflicting evidence regarding the management of the developmentally immature Graf type IIa hip. Some physicians adopt watchful waiting for natural maturation of hips while other early treatment. This article will provide an evidence-based review on the management modalities of the Graf type IIa hip.
Identifying resistance to Phytophthora sojae in selected soybean accessions using RFLP techniques

Phytophthora sojae (Kauffmann and Gerdemann) is the causal agent of phytophthora root and stem rot of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ]. A disease outbreak in favorable environmental conditions has the potential to inflict 100% yield loss. Soybean accessions from central China offer unique genetic variability and are potential sources for novel genes conferring phytophthora resistance. Approximately 500 accessions have been classified for reaction to races 1, 3, and 7 of P. sojae. Eighteen accessions were selected that were resistant to races 1 and 3 and susceptible to race 7. RFLP markers linked to resistance alleles were used to compare the accessions to isolines with known Rps alleles. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) results were supported with greenhouse hypocotyl inoculations with zoospores of races 1, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13, and 25. One plant introduction (PI) was found likely to possess Rpsla, five possibly possessed Rps2, seven could carry Rps3, and four were found possibly to possess Rps4. Evidence of multigene combinations were detected in eight accessions. Unique RFLP bands and hypocotyl inoculation reactions were discovered in PIs 567343, 567530, 567572A, 567574A, 567583A, 567764, and 567766, implying possible presence of novel Rps alleles. Knowledge of which Rps allele combinations are present in these accessions will allow for integration of the novel resistance into modern cultivars.
Correlates of Ranging Behavior in a Group of Red Colobus Monkeys (Colobus badius tephrosceles)

Data are presented from 17 months of systematic sampling of the food habits, ranging patterns and distribution of food of a group of red colobus monkeys. No positive or negative correlations were found between the diversity of ranging patterns and the diversity of diet, distribution of food species, or percentage of young growth in the diet. There was, however, a significant correlation between the diversity of ranging pattern and the number of days per monthly sample that the group was proximal to or had aggressive encounters with another group of red colobus monkeys.
Toxicity and bioavailability of the organophosphorus insecticide pirimiphos methyl to the freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex L. In laboratory and mesocosm systems

Insecticides must be tested to determine their nontarget toxicity when released into the environment. Currently, new insecticides registered in Europe are likely to be tested, at the highest tier, in microcosms or mesocosms, although the costeffectiveness of these systems has yet to be established. This study investigated the effects of the organophosphorus insecticide pirimiphos methyl on the amphipod Gammarus pulex L. in 250‐ml laboratory beakers and 50,000‐L pond mesocosms. Acetylcholinesterase activity and survival were used as indicators of the insecticide's bioavailability and toxicity. The results from beakers and mesocosms were indistinguishable, indicating that the former are efficient tools for predicting the bioavailability of chemicals such as pirimiphos methyl that have high toxicity but low persistence in the environment.
Pandemic Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Challenges and A Global Perspective

The technology-driven world of the 21st century is currently confronted with a major threat to humankind in the form of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of April 22, 2020, COVID-19 has claimed 169, 006 human lives and had spread to over 200 countries with more than 2,471,136 confirmed cases. The perpetually increasing figures associated with COVID-19 are disrupting the social and economic systems globally. The losses are unmatched and significantly higher compared to those from previously encountered pathogenic infections. Previously, two CoVs (SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome-CoV) affected the human population in 2002 and 2012 in China and Saudi Arabia, respectively. Based on genomic similarities, animal-origin CoVs, primarily those infecting bats, civet cats, and pangolins, were presumed to be the source of emerging human CoVs, including the SARS-CoV-2. The cohesive approach amongst virologists, bioinformaticians, big data analysts, epidemiologists, and public health researchers across the globe has delivered high-end viral diagnostics. Similarly, vaccines and therapeutics against COVID-19 are currently in the pipeline for clinical trials. The rapidly evolving and popular technology of artificial intelligence played a major role in confirming and countering the COVID-19 pandemic using digital technologies and mathematical algorithms. In this review, we discuss the noteworthy advancements in the mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the etiological viral agent, comparative genomic analysis, population susceptibility, disease epidemiology, animal reservoirs, laboratory animal models, disease transmission, diagnosis using artificial intelligence interventions, therapeutics and vaccines, and disease mitigation measures to combat disease dissemination.
Evaluation for Characteristics of Tropical Cyclone Induced Heavy Rainfall over the Sub-basins in The Central Hokkaido, Northern Japan by 5-km Large Ensemble Experiments

Previous studies have shown that the acceleration of global warming will increase the intensity of rainfall induced by tropical cyclones (TCs) (hereinafter referred to as “TC-induced rainfall”). TC-induced rainfall is affected by TC position and topography (slope shape and direction). Thus, TC-induced rainfall is expected to vary by sub-basin due to varying topographies. However, these relationships have not been explained, as historical TCs, which occurred several decades earlier, do not exhaustively encompass all TC positions that could potentially affect each basin. We used large ensemble regional climate model experiments with 5 km grid spacing, which enabled us to prepare a huge TC database for understanding the characteristics of TC-induced rainfall over sub-basins. We quantified the characteristics of TC-induced rainfall (rainfall volume, relationship between TC position and rainfall intensity, and contribution of TC intensity on rainfall) over four sub-basins in the Tokachi River basin, central Hokkaido, northern Japan. The results reveal differences in TC-induced rainfall characteristics between the sub-basins. In addition, the large ensemble data under a future climate scenario were used to evaluate future changes in the characteristics of TC-induced rainfall for each sub-basin.
DYPHORA—a dynamic model for the rate of photosynthesis of algae

Experimental data obtained from different cultures of phytoplankton indicate that photosynthesis (F) depends on light intensity (I) in a dynamic way. Therefore, static Pll curves relating photosynthesis to the instantaneous light may not be adequate to describe the activity of algal cells in lakes or oceans where mixing can cause a complex pattern of light variation. The model DYPHORA (DYnamic model for the PHOtosynthetic Rate of Algae) describes the response of photosynthesis to light using two characteristic times, the response time to increasing light (T r ), and the light inhibition decay time (T,). The model agrees well with available experiments if T, is chosen between 0.5 and 5 min, and T, between 30 and 120 min. It explains the occurrence of the well-documented afternoon depression as well as the decrease of integrated long-term rates of photosynthesis with increasing light. Although the presented comparison of experimental data and model results cannot serve as a proof for DYPHORA in a strict sense, the structural relationship between P and / can nevertheless point out inadequacies in the common interpretation of static Pll relationships. The model can also serve as a tool to test hypotheses regarding the selective role of mixing in the competition between algal species.
Can the SOM Analysis Predict Business Failure Using Capital Structure Theory? Evidence from the Subprime Crisis in Spain

The paper aims to identify which variables related to capital structure theory predict business failure in the Spanish construction sector during the subprime crisis. An artificial neural network (ANN) approach based on Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) is proposed, which allows one to cluster between default and active firms’ groups. The similarities and differences between the main features in each group determine the variables that explain the capacities of failure of the analyzed firms. The network tests whether the factors that explain leverage, such as profitability, growth opportunities, size of the company, risk, asset structure, and age of the firm, can be suitable to predict business failure. The sample is formed by 152 construction firms (76 default and 76 active) in the Spanish market. The results show that the SOM correctly predicts 97.4% of firms in the construction sector and classifies the firms in five groups with clear similarities inside the clusters. The study proves the suitability of the SOM for predicting business bankruptcy situations using variables related to capital structure theory and financial crises.
Water relations of winter wheat: 1. Growth of the root system

Summary The production of root axes and the growth of the root system are reported for a commercially grown crop of Maris Huntsman winter wheat. Soil cores were extracted on 17 occasions during the growing season permitting a detailed study of root length and root dry weight with depth and time. Production of seminal root axes was complete by the beginning of March when all plants possessed six (occasionally seven) axes which persisted throughout the life of the crop. Nodal axes were produced continuously from mid-February until late May and finally numbered approximately 20 stem nodal axes per main stem. Total root dry weight increased exponentially until the beginning of April and then almost linearly to reach a maximum of 105 g root/m2 field in mid-June (anthesis). After anthesis, total root dry weight decreased but root growth continued below 80 cm. From April onwards, approximately 65% of the total root dry weight was in the 0–30 cm layer.
Isolated word language identification system with hybrid features from a deep belief network

The representation of good audio features is the first and foremost requirement for improving the identification performance of any system. Most of the representation learning approaches are based on connectionist systems to learn and extract latent features from the speech data. This research work presents a hybrid feature extraction approach to integrate Mel‐Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) features with Shifted Delta Cepstral (SDC) coefficients features, which are further stacked to Deep Belief Network (DBN), for yielding new feature representations of the speech signals. DBN is utilized for unsupervised feature learning on the extracted MFCC‐SDC acoustic features. A 3‐layer Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) classifier is initialized in terms of the learning outcomes of hidden layers of DBN for identifying language from the uttered speech. The efficiency of the proposed approach is evaluated by simulating several experimental algorithms on the user‐defined database of isolated words in four languages, namely, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, and English, in the working platform of MATLAB. The obtained results for the proposed hybrid approach MFCC‐SDC‐DBN are promising. The proposed approach is also compared with the baseline feature extraction approach MFCC‐SDC by utilizing traditional acoustic features and BPNN classifier. The accuracy obtained with our proposed approach is 98.1% whereas that of the baseline approach is 82%, thereby providing an overall improvement of 16.1%.
Trypanosomatidae Peptidases: A Target for Drugs Development

In most organisms around 2% of the genes code for peptidases being this number only surmounted by the genes that code for transcriptional factors. This ubiquitous presence is almost unequaled and has for long fascinated biochemists. Although peptidases have been classified in four mechanistic classes (aspartic-, cysteine-, serine- and metallo-peptidases), the more recent MEROPS database recognizes 42 evolutionary distinct peptidase structures corresponding to 42 different families. As peptidases are involved in several physiological processes they are an obvious target for the development of therapeutic agents to treat infectious disease. The Trypanosomatidae family includes etiologic agents for human and veterinary diseases, such as Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania spp. and the African trypanosomes that are responsible for the Chagas disease, for a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations known as leishmaniasis, and for the "sleeping sickness", respectively. These microorganisms present a complex life cycle that includes dimorphic developmental stages in distinct hosts and by extension show nutritional adaptation. This review covers the recent advances in the biochemical characterization of trypanosomatid proteolytic enzymes and that of specific inhibitors to block their hydrolytic activity, in accordance to the peptidases potential role as target to the treatment of the aforementioned illnesses.
The space between us: considering online media for interreligious dialogue

ABSTRACT The internet has been conceptualized as a public sphere in which constructive dialogues – such as inter-religious dialogues – can occur. Public spheres, however, require reason, reflectivity and sincerity rarely found in most web spaces. Therefore, this approach might be counterproductive. Instead, I suggest we consider online communication as a Foucauldian discourse, a site of struggle, in which norms and concepts are negotiated. This chapter considers a few theoretical frameworks that allow researchers to critically survey online inter-religious dialogue. Four case studies are then reviewed in light of these theoretical considerations. The chapter argues that online discourses need to be examined by paying attention to the technological affordances, the social and cultural context, and the linguistic strategies employed. It is suggested that, for interreligious dialogue to happen, it needs to carve out a space within this online media that is dedicated to contemplation and openness.
Numerical abundance and biodiversity of below‐ground taxocenes along a pH gradient across the Netherlands

Aim Taxocenes are regulated by different kinds of predictors, but can broad‐scale patterns of prokaryotes (bacteria) and eukaryotes (such as fungi and invertebrates) be ascribed to soil acidity? We sought to test for relationships between the numerical abundances of bacteria, microfungi, nematodes and arthropods along a pH gradient.
Behaviour and mimicry in the juvenile and subadult life stages of the mesopelagic squid Chiroteuthis calyx

Cephalopods are common inhabitants of the deep ocean's mesopelagic zones worldwide, yet very little is known about their behaviour due to the inaccessibility of this environment. Recent studies suggest that, contrary to historical predictions, deep-sea cephalopods exhibit a wide array of visual behaviours. We used in situ footage from remotely operated vehicles, coupled with laboratory observations to assemble the first behavioural ethogram for the juvenile and subadult life stages of the mesopelagic squid, Chiroteuthis calyx. The number of behavioural components we described is comparable to or exceeds those recognized in ethograms of shallow-water teuthids. We used the ethogram to make a detailed behavioural comparison between the juvenile and subadult life stages, and found distinctly different patterns. Behavioural and morphological differences between the two life stages support the hypothesis that juvenile C. calyx mimic the abundant siphonophore Nanomia bijuga, in order to deter predation.
A Prototype Web-Based Emergency Response System That Incorporates the Findings from the Shortest Route Techniques for Path Optimization

-This paper holistically reviewed the present emergency response operations of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), and identified deficiencies. This ultimately led to the development of an improved network, premised on the assumption that all the response management sub-stations (LRU) of LASEMA in Lagos State were networked to a central location where all command operations are easily disseminated. An improved framework was then designed, that utilised an improved Ant Colony Optimization technique layered on the Google Map functionality to determine the shortest route to an incident site for the emergency vehicle conveying the first responders to the incident site. A detailed discussion on the design, development, implementation and evaluation approaches used for the Emergency Response Management System (ERMS) was done. How data used in this work were collected, tested for quality of its contents and then analysed using the descriptive analysis of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was extensively discussed. Also, the data collected before and after the implementation of the developed Emergency Response Management System (ERMS) were analysed using the descriptive analysis of the SPSS software, as to measure the perceived performance of the system, based on the variables defined from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). From the analyses of the results of these metrics, we concluded that the ERMS was able
Population size and density effects in pollination : Pollinator foraging and plant reproductive success in experimental arrays of Brassica kaber

1 The term 'density-dependence' is often applied rather loosely to a variety of aspects of local abundance. 'Density' is most commonly measured as the size of a local population and/or the (average) spacing between the individuals within it. These parameters are interrelated and correlated in most natural populations. Yet species interactions and population dynamics may be affected differently by these different aspects of abundance. 2 Field experiments were performed to test the effects of two components of local abundance on pollination in the self-incompatible annual plant, Brassica kaber. In one experiment, populations of uniform density but differing size were planted out, whilst in a second study both the density and size of populations were varied. 3 The number of individuals in a population had no effect on pollinator visitation or subsequent seed set in either experiment. 4 Population density, however, had strong effects on both visitation and reproductive success. 5 The position of a plant within a population had an impact on pollinator constancy in the second experiment, but had no effect on visitation rates or reproductive success.