Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local Scale (3-m) Soil Moisture Mapping Using SMAP and Planet SuperDove

A capability for mapping meter-level resolution soil moisture with frequent temporal sampling over large regions is essential for quantifying local-scale environmental heterogeneity and eco-hydrologic behavior. However, available surface soil moisture (SSM) products generally involve much coarser grain sizes ranging from 30 m to several 10 s of kilometers. Hence, a new method is proposed to estimate 3-m resolution SSM using a combination of multi-sensor fusion, machine-learning (ML), and Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) matching approaches. This method established favorable SSM correspondence between 3-m pixels and overlying 9-km grid cells from overlapping Planet SuperDove (PSD) observations and NASA Soil Moisture Active-Passive (SMAP) mission products. The resulting 3-m SSM predictions showed improved accuracy by reducing absolute bias and RMSE by ~0.01 cm3/cm3 over the original SMAP data in relation to in situ soil moisture measurements for the Australian Yanco region while preserving the high sampling frequency (1–3 day global revisit) and sensitivity to surface wetness (R 0.865) from SMAP. Heterogeneous soil moisture distributions varying with vegetation biomass gradients and irrigation regimes were generally captured within a selected study area. Further algorithm refinement and implementation for regional applications will allow for improvement in water resources management, precision agriculture, and disaster forecasts and responses.
Comparing Structure-Property Evolution for Pm-Hip and Forged Alloy 625 Irradiated with Neutrons to 1dpa

The nuclear power industry has growing interest in qualifying powder metallurgy with hot isostatic pressing (PM-HIP) to replace traditional alloy fabrication methods for reactor structural components. But there is little known about the response of PM-HIP alloys to reactor conditions. This study directly compares the response of PM-HIP to forged Ni-base Alloy 625 under neutron irradiation doses ~0.5 – 1 displacements per atom (dpa) at temperatures ranging ~321 – 385 ◦ C. Post-irradiation examination involves microstructure characterization, ASTM E8 uniaxial tensile testing, and fractography. Up through 1 dpa, PM-HIP Alloy 625 appears more resistant to irradiation-induced cavity nucleation than its forged counterpart, and consequently experiences significantly less hardening. This observed difference in performance can be explained by the higher initial dislocation density of the forged material, which represents an interstitial-biased sink that leaves a vacancy supersaturation to nucleate cavities. These findings show promise for qualification of PM-HIP Alloy 625 for nuclear applications, although higher dose studies are needed to assess the steady-state irradiated microstructure.
Suites de Sturm, complexité et dimension de Vapnik-Chervonenkis

La complexite d'une suite (a valeurs dans un alphabet fini)denombre tous les facteurs de longueur donnee qui figurent dans cette suite. Pour une suite de Sturm, nous donnons ici une estimation du nombre de mots vus par une fenetre qui est un ensemble fini quelconque, donc plus generale qu'un intervalle d'entiers consecutifs. Nous en deduisons que la dimension de Vapnik-Chervonenkis d'une suite de Sturm est egale a deux.The complexity of a sequence (with values in a finite alphabet) counts the factors of given length in the sequence.For a Sturmian sequence, we give here an estimation of the numberof words which are seen through a window which is an arbitrary finite set, therefore more general than an interval of consecutive integers.As a corollary, we prove that the VC-dimension of a Sturmian sequence is 2.
Perceived Roles and Challenges of Guidance Designates in the Implementation of Homeroom Guidance

This study purposively investigated the perception of Guidance Designates on their primary role in the implementation of Homeroom Guidance in their respective school. The respondents of the study were Elementary Guidance Designates within Schools Division Office I Pangasinan identified through the snowball sampling technique. The responses of were gathered through an interview that delved into the perceived roles, challenges encountered, and coping mechanisms of Guidance Designates in terms of academic, personal-social, and career development domains of Homeroom Guidance. The researcher made use of the qualitative research method (allows researcher to examine people’s experiences in detail, by using a set of research methods, like interviews, focus group discussions, observation, content analysis, visual methods, life histories, and biographies, Torunoğlu & Gençtanırım, 2015). For this study, the data were collected via interview. Interview is a good way to get a description of another’s perspective on events (Maxwell, 2013).
The Second Yearbook

THE advance of the manual-training movement in the past dozen years is one of the most remarkable developments in educational history. The school is rapidly changing to an organization for work as well as for study, a place not only for gaining knowledge, but also for acquiring experience. This, no doubt, is due in part to the emphasis placed by recent psychology upon motor activity. We were not unacquainted with the child as an active being, and sometimes excessively active, before the scientists stamped this label upon him, but, strange to say, it took scientific discovery to give us proper respect for activity. Activity has been in the past something to repress in order that memory and reason might have their way. Now it is given its natural outlet in occupations that call out all the powers of the individual. The introduction of occupations into the school is also based on social considerations. It is the attempt of society to repair its losses, to give to the child of today the value of the industrial training formerly given in the home. It reveals a recognition of the fact that civilization rests upon certain fundamental industrial conditions. The value of the occupations once recognized, it is inevitable that we should next consider their relationship to the acquirement of knowledge. The studies that make up the school curriculum represent the accumulation of knowledge by the race, the vast storehouse of modern culture. The formulation of this subject-matter for study on a theoretical ideal of the development of the mind is the ordinary method followed today in arranging courses of study, but it is a method without foundation in principle. As the individual becomes of more importance than that which he acquires, a new basis for the organization of the curriculum is forced upon us. It is necessary to consider, not only the order and value of social experiences, but also
Metabolic monitoring of the patients with serious mental illness (SMI) in a community mental health center (CMHC) during the COVID-19 pandemic

ÖZET Amaç: Şizofreni ve Bipolar Bozukluk gibi ciddi akıl hastalığı tanısıyla takipli hastaların metabolik izlemleri COVID-19 salgını sırasında sağlık hizmetlerinin kesintiye uğraması nedeniyle aksadı. Bu çalışmadaki amacımız, bir Toplum Ruh Sağlığı Merkezinde (TRSM) takip edilen hastaların başlangıçtaki (pandemi öncesi) ve COVID-19 pandemisinden 12 ay sonraki metabolik parametrelerini karşılaştırmaktır. Yöntem: Vücut kitle indeksi (VKİ), bel çevresi, yüksek yoğunluklu lipoprotein (HDL), aterojenik plazma indeksi (AIP) gibi metabolik parametreleri başlangıçta (pandemi öncesi) ve pandemi sonrası 12.ayda karşılaştırdık. Bulgular: VKİ (p
Participation in the under-18 Euroleague Next Generation Tournament does not predict attaining NBA, Euroleague, or Eurocup

We examined whether participation and individual performance in the under-18 Euroleague Next Generation Tournament (NGT) predicted a future contract with an NBA, Euroleague, or Eurocup squad. Data from 1446 players between 2002–2003 and 2011–2012 seasons were considered. We considered information about each player, including country, the number of games played, and performance index rating (PIR). We tracked the players’ highest club level attained in their adult careers. We used a multilevel ordinal regression with a cumulative model in a fully Bayesian framework to examine the probability of the players playing in the NGT attaining the NBA, Euroleague, or Eurocup. Furthermore, we explored in the model if PIR in the NGT was a relevant predictor of achieving the highest club level in adult careers. From the total sample, only a very small percentage attain the NBA (20 in 1446, 1.4%), Euroleague (103 in 1446, 7.2%), and Eurocup (60 in 1446, 4.2%). The results highlight that a very small number of players with a very high PIR per game in the NGT had a higher chance to play in the NBA, Euroleague, or Eurocup. The probability of attainment of NBA and Euroleague for the population of highly selected basketball players playing the under-18 NGT in the first 10 years of the NGT was small. Hence, caution is warranted when assuming the effectiveness of current talent development models, even at the late stages of young players’ development, often labelled as young elite players.
An improved simple feature set for face presentation attack detection

Presentation attacks are weak points of facial biometrical authentication systems. Although several presentation attack detection methods were developed, the best of them require a sufficient amount of training data and rely on computationally intensive deep learning based features. Thus, most of them have difficulties with adaptation to new types of presentation attacks or new cameras. In this paper, we introduce a method for face presentation attack detection with low requirements for training data and high efficiency for a wide range of spoofing attacks. The method includes feature extraction and binary classification stages. We use a combination of simple statistical and texture features and describe the experimental results of feature adjustment and selection. We validate the proposed method using WMCA dataset. The experiments showed that the proposed features decrease the average classification error in comparison with the RDWT-Haralick-SVM method and demonstrate the best performance among non-CNN-based methods.
Introduction to the arithmetic theory of automorphic functions

* uschian groups of the first kind * Automorphic forms and functions * Hecke operators and the zeta-functions associated with modular forms * Elliptic curves * Abelian extensions of imaginary quadratic fields and complex multiplication of elliptic curves * Modular functions of higher level * Zeta-functions of algebraic curves and abelian varieties * The cohomology group assoicated with cusp forms * Arithmetic Fuschian groups
Automated Design of Metaheuristics Using Reinforcement Learning Within a Novel General Search Framework

Metaheuristic algorithms have been investigated intensively to address highly complex combinatorial optimization problems. However, most metaheuristic algorithms have been designed manually by researchers of different expertise without a consistent framework. This article proposes a general search framework (GSF) to formulate in a unified way a range of different metaheuristics. With generic algorithmic components, including selection heuristics and evolution operators, the unified GSF aims to serve as the basis of analyzing algorithmic components for automated algorithm design. With the established new GSF, two reinforcement learning (RL)-based methods, deep $Q$ -network based and proximal policy optimization-based methods, have been developed to automatically design a new general population-based algorithm. The proposed RL-based methods are able to intelligently select and combine appropriate algorithmic components during different stages of the optimization process. The effectiveness and generalization of the proposed RL-based methods are validated comprehensively across different benchmark instances of the capacitated vehicle routing problem with time windows. This study contributes to making a key step toward automated algorithm design with a general framework supporting fundamental analysis by effective machine learning.
Consortium of Indigenous Fecal Bacteria in the Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome

The features of gut microbiota in metabolic syndrome (MS) and ways to correct it using autoprobiotics, based on indigenous bacteria obtained from fecal samples of the host, remain unexplored. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of an indigenous consortium (IC) of fecal bacteria in treatment of patients with MS. The study was carried out on 36 patients with MS, manifested with abdominal obesity, eating disorders, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. The control group was formed by 20 healthy volunteers. Samples of IC and gut microbiota content were examined by qPCR and metagenome (16S rRNA) analysis before and after therapy. The decrease in anthropometric parameters of obesity, liver enzyme level correction, reduction in C reactive protein and triglyceride concentrations were revealed after IC usage. The decrease in genera Bifidobacterium, Enterobacter, Paraprevotella, and Prevotella, as well as an increase in Bacteroides fragilis and Oscillospira spp. populations were shown after consumption of IC. A negative correlation between the quantity of B. fragilis and the anthropometric parameters of obesity (r = −0.48) and C reactive protein level (r = −0.36) in serum was established. Thus, IC can be considered as a potential functional personified product for the therapy of MS.
Overseas Warehouse Deployment for Cross-Border E-Commerce in the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative

The development of cross-border e-commerce is generally faced with problems such as high freight, long transportation time, and low service level. However, overseas warehouses can effectively solve the above problems to a certain extent, and they can improve consumer satisfaction. Therefore, this paper proposed a method combined with the entropy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (E-TOPSIS) model and complex network analysis theory to make a comprehensive determination of overseas warehouse locations for China’s e-commerce exports in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative (B&R). We selected 62 countries along the B&R as pre-candidates for overseas warehouse locations and then evaluated the significance of each node in cross-border e-commerce for Chinese export products. Finally, 15 countries were identified as the optimal overseas warehouse locations for Chinese export products along the B&R. The results can provide reference for overseas warehouse deployment of Chinese cross-border e-commerce enterprises as well as the development and the construction of the B&R.
Students’ perceptions on the difficulty of biochemistry concepts covered in Rwandan secondary school biology curriculum

This study explored the Rwandan secondary students’ opinions on learning biochemistry concepts covered in the Rwandan advanced level of secondary school biology curriculum, and the reasons behind the difficulty of the concepts. In this research, sequential exploratory mixed-method designs were adopted. The sample comprised 195 secondary school students, who were purposively selected from the schools in Rwamagana and Kayonza districts of Rwandan Eastern Province. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and focus group semi-structured interview guides. Data analysis was carried out using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Results from this research showed that photosynthesis and respiration are the major units that are challenging to study with the respective percentages of 62.5 and 75.1. On the other hand, the concept of enzymes is the most difficult according to students’ views. The lack of adequate laboratory and learning resources and teachers’ teaching styles were reportedly the reasons behind the difficulty of these units. Therefore, the provision of continuous professional development training on advances in teaching and learning biochemistry to in-service teachers would be one of the strategies to enhance students’ understanding of these concepts. Keywords: Biochemistry, photosynthesis, enzymes, respiration, secondary school students.
Cardiac and Respiratory Influences on Intracranial and Neck Venous Flow, Estimated Using Real-Time Phase-Contrast MRI

The study of brain venous drainage has gained attention due to its hypothesized link with various neurological conditions. Intracranial and neck venous flow rate may be estimated using cardiac-gated cine phase-contrast (PC)-MRI. Although previous studies showed that breathing influences the neck’s venous flow, this aspect could not be studied using the conventional segmented PC-MRI since it reconstructs a single cardiac cycle. The advent of real-time PC-MRI has overcome these limitations. Using this technique, we measured the internal jugular veins and superior sagittal sinus flow rates in a group of 16 healthy subjects (12 females, median age of 23 years). Comparing forced-breathing and free-breathing, the average flow rate decreased and the respiratory modulation increased. The flow rate decrement may be due to a vasoreactive response to deep breathing. The respiratory modulation increment is due to the thoracic pump’s greater effect during forced breathing compared to free breathing. These results showed that the breathing mode influences the average blood flow and its pulsations. Since effective drainage is fundamental for brain health, rehabilitative studies might use the current setup to investigate if respiratory exercises positively affect clinical variables and venous drainage.
Influence of Tripadvisor reviews on guest satisfaction with restaurants in major cities of former Yugoslavia

In the era of urban tourism expansion, restaurants in major cities of former Yugoslavia (Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Skopje, Podgorica, which are also the capitals of the newly emerged countries) are very important factors in meeting the needs of tourists. The Internet with specialized websites and social networks provides a wealth of information to potential restaurant visitors. Tripadvisor is one of the most popular hospitality websites that gives its users an insight into past experiences of restaurant customers. Previous research has shown that there is a close relationship between the number of reviews on the website and the financial performance of restaurants. The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship of visitor satisfaction between the mentioned capitals, as well as the trends in the number of reviews and satisfaction over time, including the correlation between the number of written comments and visitor satisfaction via the analysis of ratings and comments left on the Tripadvisor site.
An Overview: PM2.5 Concentration Levels in Urban Residential Buildings during the Past Two Decades

The public has become increasingly aware of the critical effect of fine particle matter (PM2.5) on indoor air quality. Urban residents spend more than half of their time at home. Therefore, monitoring PM2.5 concentrations in residential settings is critical. This paper presents a review of studies on PM2.5 concentrations in the living rooms of urban residential buildings. We included studies measuring indoor PM2.5 concentrations across different regions worldwide and then summarized the measured concentrations. Factors contributing to differences in indoor concentrations were identified and explained. The review results revealed that most of the included studies were conducted in Asia and in Europe, and some were conducted in North AC CE PT ED M AN US CR IP T 2 America and Africa. Moreover, the mean daily PM2.5 concentration ranged from 17.3 μg m-3 in North America to 68.6 μg m-3 in Asia. Factors influencing PM2.5 concentrations were as follows: indoor activities, ventilation type and air cleaner (AC) use, building type and performance, ambient environment and season. Smoking and cooking considerably increased PM2.5 concentrations in the living rooms, even in measurements conducted over a short time. The use of an AC could reduce indoor PM2.5 concentration in an average of 60%. Regarding building type, PM2.5 concentration in multifamily apartment buildings had higher PM2.5 concentrations than did single-room residences. Moreover, severe outdoor particle pollution increased indoor PM2.5 concentrations by up to 142% in low-energy residential buildings.
Slippage Detection and Monitoring in Gripper Robot using Touch Screen Sensor

Designing and producing gripper robots was one of remarkable issues in robotics and slippage of the grasped objects were one of its important challenges. Many useful approaches are discovered for slippage detection till now,and also many tactile sensors are produced for these purposes which monitor the slippage. Through this article, different approaches for slippage detection are studied and some of these sensors are investigated. Finally, a simple method for developing our last approach in our previous work is presented, and then this method is compromise with our previous work and also existing approaches.
Employers’ Perceived Career Impact of Canada’s Parental-Leave Extension from 35 to 61 Weeks—“An Empty Gift”

Introduced in 1990, Canadian parental-leave policy has seen several iterations. The most recent policy change, introduced in December 2017, extended parental leave from 35 to 61 weeks, resulting in longer work interruptions. Forty-six structured interviews were conducted to explore Canadian employers’ perception of how use of the new extended leave may impact employees’ careers. Though some employers offered explicit support for employees, a large proportion of employers felt that use of the longer leave would negatively impact employees’ careers. The presence of unions appeared to insulate employees from a career impact. A thematic analysis revealed that the career impact perceived by employers resulted from concern for employees’ missed opportunities (e.g., training, promotions), length of absence, specific employment situations (e.g., role, level in the organization, career ambitions, and tenure with the organization), and gendered views of employee leave use. Given that the vast majority of Canadian parental-leave users continue to be women, this research highlights the presence of considerable workplace stigma for work interruptions and that longer parental leave may only serve to exacerbate that stigma, especially for women. Recommendations and implications for parental-leave policy, workers, and employers are discussed.