Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of winter wheat crop growth parameters using time series Sentinel-1A SAR data

Abstract In the present study, Sentinel-1A Synthetic Aperture Radar analysis of time series data at C-band was carried out to estimate the winter wheat crop growth parameters. Five different date images were acquired during January 2015–April 2015 at different growth stages from tillering to ripening in Varanasi district, India. The winter wheat crop parameters, i.e. leaf area index, vegetation water content (VWC), fresh biomass (FB), dry biomass (DB) and plant height (PH) were estimated using random forest regression (RFR), support vector regression (SVR), artificial neural network regression (ANNR) and linear regression (LR) algorithms. The Ground Range Detected products of Interferometric Wide (IW) Swath were used at VV polarization. The three different subplots of 1 m2 area were taken for the measurement of crop parameters at every growth stage. In total, 73 samples were taken as the training data-sets and 39 samples were taken as testing data-sets. The highest sensitivity (adj. R2 = 0.95579) of backscattering with VWC was found using RFR algorithm, whereas the lowest sensitivity (adj. R2 = 0.66201) was found for the PH using LR algorithm. Overall results indicate more accurate estimation of winter wheat parameters by the RFR algorithm followed by SVR, ANNR and LR algorithms.
Cratering on Asteroids

Impact craters are a ubiquitous feature of asteroid surfaces. On a local scale, small craters puncture the surface in a way similar to that observed on terrestrial planets and the Moon. At the opposite extreme, larger craters often approach the physical size of asteroids, thus globally affecting their shapes and surface properties. Crater measurements are a powerful investigation means. Crater spatial and size distributions inform us of fundamental processes, such as asteroid collisional history. A paucity of craters, sometimes observed, may be diagnostic of mechanisms of erasure that are unique on low-gravity asteroids. By-products of impacts, such as ridges, troughs, and blocks, inform us of the bulk structure. In this chapter we review the major properties of crater populations on asteroids visited by spacecraft. In doing so we provide key examples to illustrate how craters affect the overall shape and can be used to constrain asteroid surface ages, bulk properties, and impact-driven surface evolution.
Influence of Surface Snow Properties on an 89-GHz Brightness Temperature Extreme Event at Dome Fuji, Antarctica

Microwave brightness temperatures observed in Antarctica at 89 GHz from the advanced microwave sounding unit B (AMSU-B) point out an exceptional decrease of 57 K at Dome Fuji (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$77.31^{\circ} \text{S}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$39.70^{\circ} \text{E}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) during the 2019–2020 summer. The grain size index (GSI) based on 89 and 150 GHz from AMSU-B and independent observations at 89 GHz from the advanced microwave scanning radiometer 2 (AMSR-2) also show concurrent unusual values. To explain such event, a theoretical analysis was carried out by means of a radiative transfer model. We explore the sensitivity of brightness temperature to surface snow properties focusing on December, just before the decrease, and April, at its end. Results confirm that this variation is mainly related to an increase in snow grain size. A decrease in snow density is also involved as suggested by the increase in brightness temperature at 1.4 GHz from soil moisture and ocean salinity (SMOS) and in the polarization ratio at 36 GHz from AMSR-2. Extreme values observed at multiple frequencies, as well as peculiar atmospheric conditions explored in a previous study, confirm the uniqueness of this event at least on decennial scale.
Enterocins Produced by Enterococci Isolated from Breast-Fed Infants: Antilisterial Potential

Enterocins are bacteriocins synthesized by Enterococcus strains that show an interesting antimicrobial effectiveness against foodborne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. The objectives of this study were to identify and analyze the expression of enterocin genes of Enterococcus isolated from breast-fed infants and evaluate their ability to inhibit three human isolates of virulent L. monocytogenes, as well as some probiotic bacteria. The susceptibility of the strains of L. monocytogenes to fifteen antibiotics was tested, detecting their resistance to cefoxitin (constitutively resistant), oxacillin, and clindamycin. The production of enterocins A, B, and P was observed in Enterococcus faecium isolates, while enterocin AS-48 was detected in an Enterococcus faecalis isolate. AS-48 showed antilisterial activity by itself, while the joint action of enterocins A and B or B and P was necessary for inhibiting L. monocytogenes, demonstrating the synergistic effect of those combinations. The presence of multiple enterocin genes does not assure the inhibition of L. monocytogenes strains. However, the expression of multiple enterocin genes showed a good correlation with the inhibition capacity of these strains. Furthermore, the potential beneficial strains of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria examined were not inhibited by any of the enterocins produced individually or in combination, with the exception of Bifidobacterium longum BB536, which was inhibited by enterocin AS-48 and the joint production of enterocins A and B or B and P. The enterocins studied here could be candidates for developing alternative treatments against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Moreover, these selected enterocin-producing E. faecium strains isolated from breast-fed infants could be used as probiotic strains due to their antilisterial effect, as well as the absence of virulence factors.
Allelic Variations in Vernalization (Vrn) Genes in Triticum spp.

Rapid climate changes, with higher warming rates during winter and spring seasons, dramatically affect the vernalization requirements, one of the most critical processes for the induction of wheat reproductive growth, with severe consequences on flowering time, grain filling, and grain yield. Specifically, the Vrn genes play a major role in the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth in wheat. Recent advances in wheat genomics have significantly improved the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of Vrn genes (Vrn-1, Vrn-2, Vrn-3, and Vrn-4), unveiling a diverse array of natural allelic variations. In this review, we have examined the current knowledge of Vrn genes from a functional and structural point of view, considering the studies conducted on Vrn alleles at different ploidy levels (diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid). The molecular characterization of Vrn-1 alleles has been a focal point, revealing a diverse array of allelic forms with implications for flowering time. We have highlighted the structural complexity of the different allelic forms and the problems linked to the different nomenclature of some Vrn alleles. Addressing these issues will be crucial for harmonizing research efforts and enhancing our understanding of Vrn gene function and evolution. The increasing availability of genome and transcriptome sequences, along with the improvements in bioinformatics and computational biology, offers a versatile range of possibilities for enriching genomic regions surrounding the target sites of Vrn genes, paving the way for innovative approaches to manipulate flowering time and improve wheat productivity.
Multi-Device Parallel MRI Reconstruction: Efficient Partitioning for Undersampled 5D Cardiac CINE

Cardiac CINE, a form of dynamic cardiac MRI, is indispensable in the diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions, offering detailed visualization essential for the early detection of cardiac diseases. As the demand for higher-resolution images increases, so does the volume of data requiring processing, presenting significant computational challenges that can impede the efficiency of diagnostic imaging. Our research presents an approach that takes advantage of the computational power of multiple Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to address these challenges. GPUs are devices capable of performing large volumes of computations in a short period, and have significantly improved the cardiac MRI reconstruction process, allowing images to be produced faster. The innovation of our work resides in utilizing a multi-device system capable of processing the substantial data volumes demanded by high-resolution, five-dimensional cardiac MRI. This system surpasses the memory capacity limitations of single GPUs by partitioning large datasets into smaller, manageable segments for parallel processing, thereby preserving image integrity and accelerating reconstruction times. Utilizing OpenCL technology, our system offers adaptability and cross-platform functionality, ensuring wider applicability. The proposed multi-device approach offers an advancement in medical imaging, accelerating the reconstruction process and facilitating faster and more effective cardiac health assessment.
Diagnostic validity of abbreviated breast MRI in the diagnosis of breast cancer: a comparative study to the full breast MRI protocol using BI-RADS

Purpose This work aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) breast abbreviated protocol (AP) in diagnosing malignant breast lesions using BI-RADS compared with the diagnostic accuracy of the full diagnostic protocol (FDP). Material and methods A prospective single-centre study was conducted. A total of 125 female patients with suspicious breast masses underwent MRI with the AP and the FDP. The images of AP and FDP were independently interpreted by 2 radiologists with 10 years of experience in breast imaging, and any disagreement was resolved with a third one. Using the histopathological examination as a reference test, the diagnostic effectiveness of both FDP and AP in breast cancer screening was calculated. ROC curve was utilised to estimate the optimal BI-RADS cut-off for prediction of malignancy. The difference in image interpretation time between both protocols was estimated using the Mann-Whitney test. Moreover, the inter-test agreement between both protocols was assessed using Cohen’s κ test. Results The study included 83 malignant and 42 benign lesions. AP indicated a specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of 90.5%, 96.4%, and 94.4%, while the FDP showed a specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of 92.9%, 100%, and 97.6%, respectively. BI-RADS 3 category was the best cut-off for prediction of malignancy. There was a significant difference between both protocols concerning the interpretation time (p < 0.001). There was excellent agreement between both protocols, with a κ of 0.915. Conclusions Breast MRI AP may be employed instead of FDP to identify breast cancer with similar diagnostic performance. Moreover, it reduces the interpretation time and the scan cost.
A New Snake for Trinidad

On September 18, 1981 Richard Joseph, a keeper at the Emperor Valley Zoo, found dead on the road near Chatham on the South West Peninsula of Trinidad a snake that was unlike any other he had ever seen. This snake was preserved and taken to the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) where it was lodged as specimen No. 1980/1167. The head of the Herpetology Department, Andrew Stimson, identified th e snake as Thamnodynastes strigatus (Gunther).
Architecture and technical approach for DT-based AI-training: state of the art

This report describes the state of the art in reinforcement learning and digital twin-based learning, and the first ideas on their application in the ASIMOV use cases. It will be the foundation for further work on researching these techniques in the ASIMOV use cases, which will enable expansion of the knowledge in these fields for general application in the high-tech industry. A low-threshold introduction to reinforcement learning and Q-learning is followed by an extensive and well-structured literature overview. Finally, the initial ideas about which techniques and approaches to use and how to apply them in the use cases are described in the last part of this report.
VU Research Portal On the use of visual information in infant reaching actions

In human adults two functionally and neuro-anatomically separate systems exist for the use of visual information in perception and the use of visual information to control movements (Milner & Goodale, 1995, 2008). We investigated whether this separation is already functioning in the early stages of the development of reaching. To this end, six-and seven-month-old infants were presented with two identical objects at identical distances in front of an illusory Ponzo-like background that made them appear to be located at different distances. In two further conditions without the illusory background, the two objects were presented at physically different distances. Preferential reaching outcomes indicated that the allocentric distance information contained in the illusory background affected the perception of object distance. Yet, infants’ reaching kinematics were only affected by the objects’ physical distance and not by the perceptual distance manipulation. These findings were taken as evidence for the two-visual systems, as proposed by Milner & Goodale (2008), being functional in early infancy. We discuss the wider implications of this early dissociation.
Lactic acid fermented Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. fruit: suppressive effect of its extracts on angiogenesis

Background Angiogenesis has been considered as one of the hallmarks of tumor progression and cancer malignancy. Meanwhile, the fruit of Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. or cherry silverberry (CS), was found to have strong biological activities including anti-cancer and anti-angiogenesis. In this study, the influence of the extracts of E. multiflora Thunb. fruits fermented by mono-and co-culture of L. plantarum and L. casei on the new blood vessel formation in human umbilical vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) stimulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as well as the underlying mechanism was elucidated. Results Sulforhodamine B, scratch wound-healing, Transwell migration, capillary-like tube formation, rat aortic ring assays, and morphological analysis were performed to determine the effect of the fermented fruit extracts on the VEGF-induced angiogenic events (motility, migration, invasion, formation of capillary-like tube, blood vessel sprouting ex vivo). The findings showed that at concentration of 25–50 µg/ml, the extracts of CS fermented by mixed cultures is the most effective in inhibiting angiogenesis in HUVECs. Moreover, analysis of the biomarker proteins related to angiogenesis through Western blot technique showed that the fermented extracts exert their anti-angiogenic activity by regulating the VEGFR2 signaling pathway and its possible downstream targets namely Erk ½ and FAK. Conclusion Taken together, the results suggest that the extracts of CS fruits fermented by co-culture of L. plantarum and L. casei has the potential to be utilized in the development of functional food and ingredient with anti-angiogenic properties.
Patient attitudes towards change in adapted motivational interviewing for substance abuse: a systematic review

: Adapted motivational interviewing (AMI) represents a category of effective, directive and client-centered psychosocial treatments for substance abuse. In AMI, patients’ attitudes towards change are considered critical elements for treatment outcome as well as therapeutic targets for alteration. Despite being a major focus in AMI, the role of attitudes towards change in AMI’s action has yet to be systematically reviewed in substance abuse research. A search of PsycINFO, PUBMED/MEDLINE, and Science Direct databases and a manual search of related article reference lists identified 416 published randomized controlled trials that evaluated AMI’s impact on the reduction of alcohol and drug use. Of those, 54 met the initial inclusion criterion by evaluating AMI’s impact on attitudes towards change and/or testing hypotheses about attitudes towards change as moderators or mediators of outcome. Finally, 19 studies met the methodological quality inclusion criterion based upon a Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale score $ 7. Despite the conceptual importance of attitudes towards change in AMI, the empirical support for their role in AMI is inconclusive. Future research is warranted to investigate both the contextual factors (ie, population studied) as well as deployment characteristics of AMI (ie, counselor characteristics) likely responsible for equivocal findings. attitude and drinking in the opposite direction; moderated mediation.
Mar 23, 2020 Advanced air distribution method combined with deodorant material for exposure reduction to bioeffluents

SUMMARY The separate and combined effect of a ventilated mattress and acid-treated activated carbon fibre (ACF) fabric on reducing the exposure to body generated gaseous pollutants in hospital environment was studied. Full-scale experiments were performed in a climate chamber furnished as a single-bed hospital patient room at reduced background ventilation rare of 1.6 air changes per hour. The bed of the patient was equipped with the ventilated mattress (VM) having an exhaust opening from which bioeffluents generated from human body were sucked and discharged from the room. To enhance the pollutant removal, acid-treated activated carbon fibre material was used in some of the experiments in the form of patient’s cover. The simulated pollution source was ammonia gas released from the patient’s groins. The results show that when using the ventilated mattress the ammonia gas concentration in the room was significantly reduced compared to the concentration measured when the VM was not in operation. The concentration of ammonia gas in the room was 100% removed when the VM operating at 1.5 L/s and the ACF material used as a cover were used together.
Menopausal Hormone Therapy after Breast Cancer this access benefits you. Your story matters

The use of postmenopausal hormone therapy after breast cancer remains controversial. Evidence shows variation by study design, and even among three randomized controlled trials there is substantial heterogeneity of results. Two Swedish trials of comparable size show relative risks of recurrence of 3.3 and 0.82 on comparing women receiving postmenopausal hormone therapy with control women. The extent of use of tamoxifen and concomitant use of progestins in combination with estrogen, although raised as one possible explanation for this heterogeneity, are not supported by evidence from trials of high-dose progestins used after breast cancer. Caution is needed when considering the use of postmenopausal hormone therapy after breast cancer.
Comparison of estimated white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) population densities during two different seasons in the Miami University Natural Areas

COMPARISON OF ESTIMATED WHITE-TAILED DEER (ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS) POPULATION DENSITIES DURING TWO DIFFERENT SEASONS IN THE MIAMI UNIVERSITY NATURAL AREAS by Michelle L. Barrett Wildlife habitat in southwest Ohio has been significant altered by agricultural and suburban development. A reduction or loss of natural predators and habitat changes has led to greater abundance of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), which can pose major environmental impacts and human-wildlife conflicts. In order to manage a deer population to an acceptable carrying capacity, it is important to have accurate measurements of deer density. This study used pellet-group distance sampling using transects (varying in length from 500 to 800 meters) at five different sites in order to estimate the deer density in the Miami University Natural Areas. Data were collected during two different seasons which resulted in estimated white-tailed deer population densities of 11.2 deer km in summer and 18.1 deer km in winter. Previous studies have shown that population sizes usually decreases during the winter due to increased mortality from weather, food related, and human related causes. One explanation for the increased population density in this study is the migration into the forests of the Natural Areas from surrounding agricultural or suburban. Both estimates were higher than the recommended carrying capacities for other areas of the eastern deciduous forest, which are 5.8-7.7 deer per km. Further monitoring of deer population size in the Natural Areas continued will enable the establishment of a baseline densities that can be used to compare the effectiveness of a deer management plan should one be established in the future. COMPARISON OF ESTIMATED WHITE-TAILED DEER (ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS) POPULATION DENSITIES OVER TWO DIFFERENT SEASONAL PERIODS IN MIAMI UNIVERSITY NATURAL AREAS
Fast Power Density Aware 3D-IC Floorplanning for Hard Macro-Blocks Using Best Operator Combination Genetic Algorithm

In this article, we propose a fast 3D-IC ﬂoorplanning method for hard macro-blocks that includes a thermal management scheme. It applies a genetic algorithm constituted by an optimal combination of crossover and mutation operations to identify the optimal solution for design variables, namely, total wire length, number of through-silicon vias (TSVs)
supersingularity testing over F_p and CSIDH key validation

Many public-key cryptographic protocols,notably non-interactive key exchange (NIKE), require incoming public keys to be validated to mitigate some adaptive attacks. In CSIDH, an isogeny-based post-quantum NIKE, a key is deemed legitimate if the given Montgomery coeﬃcient speciﬁes a supersingular elliptic curve over the prime ﬁeld. In this work, we survey the current supersingularity tests used for CSIDH key validation, and implement and measure two new alternative algorithms. Our implementation shows that we can determine supersingularity substantially faster, and using less memory, than the state-of-the-art.