Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3D SURFACE RECONSTRUCTION FROM MULTI-VIEW AND MULTI-DATE GOOGLE EARTH SATELLITE IMAGES WITH 3D HOMOGRAPHY-BASED PROJECTIVE RECONSTRUCTION

Abstract. In this paper, we propose the 3D surface reconstruction scheme using multi-view and multi-date Google Earth (GE) satellite images. Multi-view stereo matching (MVS) scheme is one of the methods for reconstructing dense 3D surface based on multi-view images and corresponding camera pose geometry. If many views are input, MVS can estimate the disparity (depth) by matching pixels. However, the common users are not always possible to obtain both multi-view satellite images and the camera geometry (such as Rational Polynomial Camera) in various earth regions. Instead, the GE provides multi-view and multi-date satellite images of earth regions. Therefore, the goal of the proposed method is to perform a 3D surface reconstruction using the GE satellite image. We suppose that the GE satellite image is a pinhole camera model, and the camera pose geometry is estimated using the perspective projection model (PPM) based structure from the motion (SfM) method. Then the 3D surface is reconstructed and fusion using the MVS method. However, the GE satellite image is a transformed pseudo-orthoimage for integration into the raster image. For this reason, the camera pose geometry is inaccurately computed in the SfM process. Thus, the high-rise structures in the reconstructed 3D surface are distorted (distorted hexahedral 3D space). Importantly, the satellite image is a weak PPM and it can express the orthographic projection model. Therefore, we compute 3D homography for transforming between distorted hexahedral space to orthographic cuboid space. Then, the distorted 3D surface is transformed using a projective reconstruction based on 3D homography. The transformed 3D surface has the correct shape in the orthographic projection model. The advantage of the proposed method is that the 3D surface of various earth regions is reconstructed using simply accessible GE satellite images. And the transformed 3D surface is reconstructed into orthographic projection model space, thus the orthoimage can be generated using projection.
Preparation of Magnetic MIL-68(Ga) Metal–Organic Framework and Heavy Metal Ion Removal Application

A magnetic metal–organic framework nanocomposite (magnetic MIL-68(Ga)) was synthesized through a “one pot” reaction and used for heavy metal ion removal. The morphology and elemental properties of the nanocomposite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), as well as zeta potential. Moreover, the factors affecting the adsorption capacity of the nanocomposite, including time, pH, metal ion type and concentration, were studied. It was found that the adsorption capacity of magnetic MIL-68(Ga) for Pb2+ and Cu2+ was 220 and 130 mg/g, respectively. Notably, the magnetic adsorbents could be separated easily using an external magnetic field, regenerated by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-Na2) and reused three times, in favor of practical application. This study provides a reference for the rapid separation and purification of heavy metal ions from wastewater.
The availability of green spaces for different socio-economic groups in cities: a case study of Budapest, Hungary

ABSTRACT The provision of urban green spaces (UGS) within a reasonable walking distance/time for each resident has become a major challenge of urban planning. We provide a novel method to map the availability of UGS for different socio-economic groups in cities using a demand–supply composite index (DSCI). Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, has been chosen to test how the DSCI works. The results show significant differences in the availability of UGS for people living in different neighborhood types. Furthermore, findings reveal that regardless of which type of residential area is considered, young and middle-aged people with higher per capita income are more likely to access UGS. As the demographic and socio-economic structure of the population is continuously changing in the different neighborhood types and so is the demand for UGS, urban planners should carefully monitor societal changes and elaborate interventions to help improve the availability and accessibility of UGS.
MIMO Antenna System for IoT Applications (5G)

Multiple Input Multiple Output MIMO, which may be utilized in 5G and IoT networks, is a type of multiple output antenna (IoT). The antenna’s four spatial orthogonal antenna elements are powered by a total of four coaxial cables, two of which are in one plane and the other two in the other. Inverted L-monopoles and grounded stubs are used to build all of the antennas. L-monopoles have a wide range of resonance frequencies that may be tuned to suit the application. Additional resonant frequency modes can be generated by using long grounded stubs. It is possible to use the adjustable 2-element folding meandered MIMO antenna in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz long-term evolution (LTE) as well as radio frequency identification (RFID) bands (687 MHz-813 MHz). MIMO antennas in the 754 MHz - 971 MHz, 1.65 GHz-1.83GHz, 2GHz3.66GHz and 5.1GHz-5.6Ghz bands are supported by the extra two-element small antennas. It is used in the cognitive radio (CR) environment as a ground plane for MIMO elements in the frequency ranges of 0.668 GHz to 1.94 GHz and 3 GHz to 4.6 GHZ to perform spectrum sensing. 65mm x 120mm x 1.56mm of low-cost FR-4 are used to construct the antenna. In full-wave simulations, the antenna’s radiation characteristics match those anticipated in the simulation. MIMO antennas’ 3D radiation pattern-based envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) was found to be less than half of the projected value. The suggested MIMO antenna’s low profile, compact size, light weight, and ease of integration with wireless communication equipment may be advantageous to IoT systems and modules.
Effect of Probiotics Therapy on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Objective Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease in the world. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex and multifactorial. Clinical studies have shown that alterations in the gut microbiota play a key role in NAFLD. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of probiotic supplementation on the treatment of NAFLD patients based on various indicators. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis investigating the relationship between NAFLD and probiotic supplementation. Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched by computer, and then, eligible studies were identified. Finally, a total of high-quality randomized controlled trials were selected involving 1403 participants. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.3 software which was systematically searched for works published through Dec. 1, 2021, in the present study. Results The meta-analysis results showed that the probiotics supplementation improved hepatocyte injury and significantly reduced the level of ALT (P = 0.00001), AST (P = 0.0009), GGT (P = 0.04), TG (P = 0.01), LDL-C (P = 0.0005), HDL-C (P = 0.0002), insulin (P = 0.003), IR (P = 0.03), BMI (P = 0.03), TNF-α (P = 0.03), and CRP (P = 0.02), respectively, in NAFLD patients. Conclusion The present study suggests that probiotics therapy may improve liver enzyme levels, regulated lipid metabolism, reduced insulin resistance, and improved inflammation in NAFLD patients. It supports the potential role of probiotics supplementation in the treatment of NAFLD.
Interference-Aware Trajectory Design for Fair Data Collection in UAV-Assisted IoT Networks by Deep Reinforcement Learning

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-assisted data collection for Internet-of-Things (IoT) systems has drawn increasing attention, which is pivotal for providing seamless coverage and promoting system performance in wireless networks. In this paper, we study a UAV-aided data collection scenario where a UAV takes off from an initial location and flies to multiple abutting ground sensor nodes (SNs) arbitrarily scattered in the physical environment to collect sensor data. Specifically, the UAV synchronously communicates with SNs when passing through the collective communication area. Considering the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) and fair performance among SNs, we maximize the fair throughput among all SNs and minimize energy consumption by optimizing the trajectory of the UAV and power allocation. The multi-optimization problem is modeled as a Markov Decision Process due to the system dynamic. To handle the continuous state and action space in this problem, we propose a deep reinforcement learning-based algorithm, named as multi-optimization trajectory design and power allocation (MOTDPA), which chooses the state-of-the-art methods, soft actor-critic with prioritized experience replay to find the efficient policy. Meanwhile, we use min-max state normalization (MMSN) to stabilize the training process. Simulation results demonstrate the better performance of the proposed approach than other commonly used baselines.
Impact of Quercetin on Sperm Parameters, Testicular Tissue and Sex Hormone: a Systematic Review

Material and Methods: Electronic search with MeSH words including Quercetin, Infertility, Sperm, Testicular tissue, and Sex hormones was accomplished in databases Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Wiley, NCBI, and Google Scholar. Finally, 296 articles were recognized during the primary search. A total of 144 papers, passing the analysis stage containing Identification, Screening, and Eligibility were selected for assessment.
Robust Underwater Localization using Acoustic Image Alignment for Autonomous Intervention Systems

Acoustic imaging sonar can be used as important navigation sensors for underwater intervention systems as they consistently provide spatial information about the surrounding environment, even in limited visibility conditions. However, acoustic imaging sonars are known for high spatial ambiguity and low resolution of their measurements, which makes it challenging to obtain precise navigational information. This paper presents a novel localization method based on sensor fusion using an integrated IMU-DVL system and an acoustic imaging sonar. A sonar simulator is implemented and used to estimate the pose of the robot based on a single acoustic image, and it is formulated as an image alignment problem between a simulated acoustic image and an actual acoustic image. For this, an approximate nearest neighbor search method is employed for initial pose estimation, and a newly developed acoustic image alignment method is applied to obtain more accurate results in a continuous pose space. These methods are then combined to construct an integrated localization system using all the navigation sensors on the robot. Its feasibility and utility of the proposed approach is shown through an experimental validation in a test tank.
Electrolyte imbalance in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Introduction: Electrolyte abnormalities are among the most common complications among the patients admitted with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) pneumonia and maybe contributed to its course of disease and severity. Objectives: The current study aims to assess the prevalence and association of electrolyte imbalance among patients with COVID 19 pneumonia. Patients and Methods: The current observational study has been conducted on 323 patients with COVID 19 pneumonia. On-admission blood samples were taken to assess electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium), complete blood count and differentiation (CBC with diff), and other biomarkers. Further measurements of electrolytes were conducted during the period of hospitalization if needed. The frequency and association of electrolyte imbalance with diverse demographic, clinical, laboratory, and in-hospital characteristics was assessed. Results: Hypo/hypernatremia, hypo/hyperkalemia, hypo/hypermagnesemia and hypo/ hypercalcemia were presented in 14.5%/9.4%, 3.8%/10.3%, 7.9%/9.3%, and 10.9%/10.8%, respectively. Time to discharge was remarkably higher among the patients with hypernatremia (P=0.031). The patients with hypermagnesemia were significantly younger than the other cases (P=0.016). The C-reactive protein (CRP) level was statistically less among the patients with hypercalcemia (P=0.025). There was no associative outcome between potassium abnormalities and patients’ characteristics. Conclusion: The present study showed that electrolyte imbalances are common laboratory abnormalities during COVID-19. However, we found no associative role, since ions balance plays a crucial prognostic role for COVID-19.
Punchcard: A Practical Red-Zone Based Scheme for Low-Overhead Heap Protection

Memory-unsafe programming languages, such as C and C++, remain indispensable due to their performance and memory management advantages. Several studies addressed the memory safety issues by proposing hardware-assisted techniques. However, we observe the proposed techniques fail to enforce the security policies due to the naive assumption - the memory can be only accessed through the processor caches. In this paper, we demonstrate that different memory access techniques can compromise the state-of-the-art blacklisting technique. Then, we propose Punchcard, a light-weight and full coverage technique. Punchcard introduces a micro-unit inside the MMU, which ensures the enforcement of the security policies to all memory accesses. Additionally, Punchcard minimizes the performance overhead by re-purposing the unused physical address bits to store the metadata. Punchcard achieves this comprehensive memory protection by incurring an average of 11% performance overhead, and an average of 9% memory overhead.
The Utilization of Lumbar MRI for Lower Back Pain at National Guard Hospital, Jeddah: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction Magnetic reasoning imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice for detecting spinal pathologies. The study of the appropriateness of MRI utilization in Saudi Arabia is lacking. As a result, this research aims to assess the use and misuse of lumbar MRI in lower back pain (LBP) at the National Guard Hospital (NGH) in Jeddah city. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study that included all adult patients who had lumbar MRI for LBP at NGH in 2019. A total of 1,225 patients were included. Patients with extreme ages, trauma, recent lumbar spine surgery, spine or spinal canal tumors, and infection were excluded, leaving a number of 805 patients. Specific MRI findings were obtained and assessed in association with history and physical examination. Results LBP with radiculopathy was the most common complaint (82.9%) followed by LBP without radiculopathy (12.8%), with the lowest being limb pain alone (2.6%). Overall, 72% of patients had negative MRI findings, which did not explain their symptoms, and 28% had positive MRI findings that were not associated with their symptoms (p < 0.001). A complete physical examination was performed on 27.5% of patients, of which only 12% had positive findings. MRI was ordered for 72.5% of patients without a complete physical examination. Finally, 88.2% of patients who had MRI were managed conservatively, while only 6.7% were managed with surgery (p < 0.04). Conclusion The number of patients who had proper assessment prior to the ordering of MRI was significantly low. The decision to request MRI was not based on any scientific basis. This study has demonstrated that without proper and strict guidelines, MRIs will continue to be overutilized, which, in turn, will have negative consequences on the waiting time for an MRI and the cost of all the unnecessary MRIs. Furthermore, a good number of patients nowadays who do not have any indications for an MRI keep asking their physicians for it, and if the physician refuses, they transfer to another physician who will order the MRI.
Shared Mobility: Current Practices and Guiding Principles

This primer provides an introduction and background to shared mobility; discusses the government’s role; reviews success stories; examines challenges, lessons learned, and proposed solutions; and concludes with guiding principles for public agencies. The primer provides an overview of current practices in this emerging field, and it also looks toward the future in the evolution and development of shared mobility.
Using the Internet in libraries

Internet est utilise par les professionnels des bibliotheques et de l'information pour une serie de raisons (comme outil de reference, systeme expert fournissant l'acces a l'information pour des centaines de specialistes des differentes disciplines et comme outil de communication). L'article decrit les outils d'Internet - Gopher, WAIS, World-Wide Web et Mosaic - et donne des instructions pour leur usage. D'autres ressources disponibles sur Internet, incluant les catalogues en ligne disponibles, les discussions interactives, les revues electroniques et les lettres d'information, ainsi que le protocole de transfert de donnees sont aussi decrits
Automatic Threat Prediction of Body-Worn Objects for Security Screening Purposes

Fast detection of hazardous objects in millimeter-wave personnel screening can increase the operating efficiency of secure environments. In airports, accurate automatic detection and classification of body-worn objects can reduce the number of pat-downs while keeping the transportation environment safe and secure. Since many benign objects such as paper and leather are lossy materials, being able to characterize them and set them aside from the secondary checks will significantly reduce the screening process time. In this paper, we introduce an effective image-processing-based method for characterizing lossy materials that might be concealed under clothing at checkpoints. The method has been combined with a modified version of previously developed algorithm that can be used specifically to characterize lossless materials. The proposed algorithm can automatically distinguish lossless materials from lossy ones and calculate their thickness and permittivities. Starting from the radar reconstructed image showing a cross-section of the body, we extract the nominal body contour using Fourier series, separate body and object responses, categorize the object as lossy or lossless based on the depression and protrusion of the body contour, and finally predict possible values for the object’s permittivity and thickness. Our resulting classification is good, implying fewer nuisance alarms at check points.
A new study on the existence and stability to a system of coupled higher-order nonlinear BVP of hybrid FDEs under the $ p $-Laplacian operator

In this paper, we study a general system of fractional hybrid differential equations with a nonlinear $ \phi_p $-operator, and prove the existence of solution, uniqueness of solution and Hyers-Ulam stability. We use the Caputo fractional derivative in this system so that our system is more general and complex than other nonlinear systems studied before. To establish the results, Green functions are used to transform the considered hybrid boundary problem into a system of fractional integral equations. Then, with the help of the topological degree theorem, we derive some sufficient conditions that ensure the existence and uniqueness of solutions for the proposed system. Finally, an example is presented to show the validity and correctness of the obtained results.
The evolution of research and development work performed by Cirad in partnership with small cotton growers in French-speaking West Africa

The performances of cotton production in French-speaking West Africa are among the best in the world under rainfed smallholding conditions. With organisation centred on integrated cotton companies, this is the result of longstanding close collaboration between researchers, development operators and farmers. CIRAD and its research & development partners also contribute through both research activities and training actions. This performance reached its best level in the early 1990s. Since then, yields have tended to stagnate or even decrease and the situation is changing rapidly. In a dull world market context, cotton sectors are developing with a tendency towards liberalisation and are changing the positions of the different players and the organisation that has been established for several decades. Biotic and abiotic constraints are intensifying or changing and others are appearing. Environmental considerations have become unavoidable. The survival of cotton sectors may be at risk unless solutions and new proposals are provided by the research sector. After a reminder of the main features of the evolution of cotton production, this paper reports on the one hand the questions resulting from the stagnation of yields since the beginning of the 1990s, and on the other shows the awareness of the need to change the present difficult situation. Starting from this, new research themes aimed at reconciling technical and economic objectives, social considerations, organisational parameters and the need for better respect of the environment are described. (Resume d'auteur)
An Efficient and Secure Anonymous Authentication Scheme for V2G Networks

The vehicle-to-grid (V2G) network has a clear advantage in terms of economic benefits, and it has grabbed the interest of powergrid and electric vehicle (EV) consumers. Many V2G techniques, at present, for example, use bilinear pairing to execute the authentication scheme, which results in significant computational costs. Furthermore, in the existing V2G techniques, the system master key is issued independently by the third parties, it is vulnerable to leaking if the third party is compromised by an attacker. This paper presents an efficient and secure anonymous authentication scheme for V2G networks to overcome this issue we use a lightweight authentication system for electric vehicles and smart grids. In the proposed technique, the keys are generated by the trusted authority after the successful registration of EVs in the trusted authority and the dispatching center. The suggested scheme not only enhances the verification performance of V2G networks and also protects against inbuilt hackers.
Evolving Indications of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement—Where Are We Now, and Where Are We Going

Indications for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have steadily increased over the last decade since the first trials including inoperable or very high risk patients. Thus, TAVR is now the most common treatment of aortic valve stenosis in elderly patients (vs. surgical aortic valve replacement -SAVR-). In this review, we summarize the current indications of TAVR and explore future directions in which TAVR indications can expand.