Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Very-High-Resolution Multispectral Classification to Estimate Savanna Fractional Vegetation Components

Characterizing compositional and structural aspects of vegetation is critical to effectively assessing land function. When priorities are placed on ecological integrity, remotely sensed estimates of fractional vegetation components (FVCs) are useful for measuring landscape-level habitat structure and function. In this study, we address whether FVC estimates, stratified by dominant vegetation type, vary with different classification approaches applied to very-high-resolution small unoccupied aerial system (UAS)-derived imagery. Using Parrot Sequoia imagery, flown on a DJI Mavic Pro micro-quadcopter, we compare pixel- and segment-based random forest classifiers alongside a vegetation height-threshold model for characterizing the FVC in a southern African dryland savanna. Results show differences in agreement between each classification method, with the most disagreement in shrub-dominated sites. When compared to vegetation classes chosen by visual identification, the pixel-based random forest classifier had the highest overall agreement and was the only classifier not to differ significantly from the hand-delineated FVC estimation. However, when separating out woody biomass components of tree and shrub, the vegetation height-threshold performed better than both random-forest approaches. These findings underscore the utility and challenges represented by very-high-resolution multispectral UAS-derived data (~10 cm ground resolution) and their uses to estimate FVC. Semi-automated approaches statistically differ from by-hand estimation in most cases; however, we present insights for approaches that are applicable across varying vegetation types and structural conditions. Importantly, characterization of savanna land function cannot rely only on a “greenness” measure but also requires a structural vegetation component. Underscoring these insights is that the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation structure on the landscape broadly informs land management, from land allocation, wildlife habitat use, natural resource collection, and as an indicator of overall ecosystem function.
Different Roles of Rumination and Mindfulness among Cyber-Ostracized Adolescents’ Psychological Well-Being

Previous research has confirmed the harmful effects of cyber-ostracism on adolescents. However, research that has investigated the effect of cyber-ostracism on adolescents’ psychological well-being and the underlying mechanisms of this influence remains scarce. Using a sample of 421 Chinese adolescents, this study examined the short-term effect of cyber-ostracism on adolescents’ psychological well-being, along with the mediating effect of rumination. Mindfulness is considered as a moderator influencing this underlying mechanism. Questionnaires regarding cyber-ostracism, rumination, and mindfulness were administered at the beginning of the spring semester. Psychological well-being was assessed three months later. The study found that cyber-ostracism significantly and negatively predicted adolescents’ psychological well-being. As shown by the mediation analysis, rumination partly mediated the effect of cyber-ostracism on adolescents’ psychological well-being. Moderated mediation analysis indicated that mindfulness played a moderating role in the relationship between cyber-ostracism and adolescents’ psychological well-being as well as the relationship between cyber-ostracism and rumination. Specifically, mindfulness would decrease the negative impact of cyber-ostracism on adolescents’ psychological well-being. This study uncovers the short-term effect of cyber-ostracism on adolescents’ psychological well-being and accentuates the underlying mechanisms of this effect, which has substantial implications for interventions and practices to reduce the detrimental effects of cyber-ostracism among adolescents.
An Energy Balancing Cross Layer Scheme for Long Lifetime Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we propose an improved routing algorithm to prolong network lifetime of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) by combining the shortest hop routing tree (SHORT) algorithm and the, turn off redundant node (TORN) MAC layer protocol to cross layer SHORTORN scheme. Moreover, to prolong the lifetime of the first node death (FND) in networks, the rate of energy consumption should be balanced for all nodes. Therefore, this paper further proposes a load balancing SHORTORN scheme by combining the weight and energy-aware, called energy-aware weight-based SHORTORN (EWSHORTORN). The proposed EWSHORTORN algorithm lets more nodes share the load of the leader and balances the opportunity of data relaying to all nodes. The proposed load balancing scheme allocates energy consumption load to be more uniformly among all nodes, thus the FNL can be prolonged evidently. Simulation results show that the proposed EWSHORTORN outperforms the SHORT scheme with double lifetime of FND.Keywords: wireless sensor networks, network lifetime, cross layer protocol, load balance.
Control of the work precision in the land leveling machinery.

Ιn the earth moving procedures, such as land leveling, where crops requirements are increased, strict control of the work precision, of the appropriate machinery and the methods applied is required. In this paper was calculated the leveling precision in two experimental plots, in the area Skoutari in Serrers, with two different application methods (classical and modern). The results have shown that during the land leveling with laser (modern method), the 84% of the recorded readings (elevations and coordinates) presented deviation within ±1 to ±3 cm from the desired grade level, whereas during the conventional land leveling, was only 62% during the same deviation.
Reprotoxic Impact of Environment, Diet, and Behavior

Reproductive health is progressively declining due to multiples endogenous and exogenous factors, such as environmental contaminants, diet and behavior. Accumulated evidences confirm that fertility and reproductive function have been adversely affected by exposure to chemical contaminants released in the environment. Today, the impact of diet and behavior on reproductive processes is also receiving special attention from the scientific community. Indeed, a close relationship between diet and fertility has been proven. Furthermore, a combination of unhealthy behavior, such as exposure to hazardous compounds and stress factors, poses living organisms at higher risk of reprotoxic effects. In particular, it has been described that poor life behaviors are associated with reduced male and female fertility due to decreased gamete quality and function. Most of the erroneous behaviors are, furthermore, a source of oxidative stress that, leading to epigenetic alterations, results in an impaired reproductive fitness. This review reports the detrimental impact of the most common environmental chemical stressors, diet, and behavior on reproductive functionality and success. Although clear evidences are still scarce, reassuring data are provided that a healthy diet and reverting unhealthy lifestyles may be of help to recover physiological reproductive conditions.
Coordinated Electric Supercharging and Turbo-Generation for a Diesel Engine

Exhaust gas turbo-charging helps exploit the improved fuel efficiency of downsized engines by increasing the possible power density from these engines. However, turbo-charged engines exhibit poor transient performance, especially when accelerating from low speeds. In addition, during low-load operating regimes, when the exhaust gas is diverted past the turbine with a waste-gate or pushed through restricted vanes in a variable geometry turbine, there are lost opportunities for recovering energy from the enthalpy of the exhaust gas. Similar limitations can also be identified with mechanical supercharging systems. This paper proposes an electrical supercharging and turbo-generation system that overcomes some of these limitations. The system decouples the activation of the air compression and exhaust-energy recovery functions using a dedicated electrical energy storage buffer. Its main attributes fast speed of response to load changes and flexibility of control. A causal simulation model of the proposed system, including that of the Diesel engine, electrically driven compressor, energy buffer battery and power electronics, and the turbo-generation system are developed and analyzed. A coordinated control scheme is then implemented for the electric compressor and turbo-generator considering load demand fluctuations on the engine and enforcing battery state of charge constraints. The proposed system is evaluated on standard test cycles and compared with conventional turbochargers. The results show the potential of the system in improving transient performance, in general, and the cycle equivalent fuel efficiency over a standard city driving cycle.
Cell Death in AMD: The Rationale for Targeting Fas

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the developed world. While great advances have been made in the treatment of the neovascular (“wet”) form of the disease, there is still a significant need for therapies that prevent the vision loss associated with the advanced forms of dry, atrophic AMD. In this atrophic form, retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) and photoreceptor cell death is the ultimate cause of vision loss. In this review, we summarize the cell death pathways and their relation to RPE and retinal cell death in AMD. We review the data that support targeting programmed cell death through inhibition of the Fas receptor as a novel approach to preserve these structures and that this effect results from inhibiting both canonical death pathway activation and reducing the associated inflammatory response. These data lay the groundwork for current clinical strategies targeting the Fas pathway in this devastating disease.
Design of high-birefringence photonic crystal fiber based on As2Se3

Abstract. A photonic crystal fiber is designed with chalcogenide glass As2Se3 as the base material. As2Se3 has a high refractive index and a high nonlinear refractive index; as a result, it has a desired application for strengthening birefringence and nonlinearity. The outer layer of the fiber is a regular decagonal structure composed of four layers of circular air holes, and the inner cladding area is composed of four elliptical air holes arranged in a diamond pattern. The influence of the size of the circular air holes in the fiber cladding, the thickness between each layer, and the size and position of the elliptical air holes in the inner cladding area on the birefringence is analyzed and studied using the full vector finite element method. The results show that the birefringence value of the fundamental mode of the fibers is 0.108 at a wavelength of 1.55 μm, and at the same time, the nonlinear coefficients of the X and Y polarization states are 240 and 197 m − 1 · W − 1, respectively.
A deep learning and heuristic methodology for predicting breakups in social network structures

Literature have focused on studying the apparent and latent interactions within social graphs as an n‐ary operation, which yields binary outputs comprising positives (friends, likes, etc.) and negatives (foes, dislikes, etc.). Inasmuch as interactions constitute the bedrock of any given social network (SN) structure; there exist scenarios where an interaction, which was once considered a positive, transmutes into a negative as a result of one or more indicators which have affected the interaction quality. At present, this transmutation has to be manually executed by the affected actors in the SN. These manual transmutations can be quite inefficient, ineffective, and a mishap might have been incurred by the constituent actors and the SN structure prior to a resolution. Our problem statement aims at automatically flagging positive ties that should be considered for breakups or rifts (negative‐tie state), as they tend to pose potential threats to actors and the SN. Therefore, we have proposed ClasReg: a unique framework capable of breakup and link predictions.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile and Whole-Genome Analysis of a Strong Biofilm-Forming Bacillus Sp. B87 Strain Isolated from Food

Members of the Bacillus cereus group are considered to be foodborne pathogens commonly associated with diarrheal and emetic gastrointestinal syndromes. Biofilm formation is a major virulence determinant of various pathogenic bacteria, including the B. cereus strains, since it can protect the bacteria against antimicrobial agents and the host immune response. Moreover, a biofilm allows the exchange of genetic material, such as antimicrobial resistance genes, among the different bacterial strains inside the matrix. The aim of the current study was to genotypically and phenotypically characterize Bacillus sp. B87, a strain that was isolated from food and which exhibited strong biofilm-forming capacity. Based on the analysis of the phylogenetic relationship, the isolate was phylogenetically mapped close to Bacillus pacificus. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that the isolate was resistant to tetracycline and β-lactam antimicrobial agents, which corresponded with the genotypic characterization using the whole-genome analysis. The genome of Bacillus sp. B87 carried the three-component non-hemolytic enterotoxin (NHE), which is a type of enterotoxin that causes diarrheal symptoms. In addition, the genome also contained several genes that participate in biofilm formation, including the pelDEADAFG operon. These findings expand our understanding of antimicrobial resistance and virulence in Bacillus species based on the link between genotypic and phenotypic characterization.
Financial risks and performance of conventional and Islamic banks: Do reputational risk matters?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the reputational risk, which is elusive and difficult to measure due to the lack of its conclusive definition. Literature supports the notion that financial risks may translate into reputational risks that pose threat to bank performance. However, empirical investigations in this context are still at their nascent stage. Design/methodology/approach This study has used a panel dataset for the sample of 24 conventional and Islamic banks regarding the period 2007–2017 by using a structural equation model. Findings The results of this study show that reputational risk partially mediates the relationship between financial risks and the performance of conventional banks. However, for Islamic banks, the reputational risk remains insignificant as a mediator. This study provides significant implications to risk managers in banks, regulators and academics to understand the role of reputational risk linked to financial risks for the improvement of bank performance. Originality/value This study aims to add to the literature by measuring reputational risk through the shareholders reputational score index, which is used as a mediator to determine whether financial risks of banks affect the performance of conventional and Islamic banks in Pakistan.
EFL Learners’ Attitudes Toward the Usability of LMOOCs: A Qualitative Content Analysis

This qualitative study aimed to explore the usability of Language Massive Open Online Courses (LMOOCs) based on Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ attitudes. We used a qualitative questionnaire to collect data from 12 EFL learners from five cities in Iran. The study’s findings address a broad range of positive and negative aspects of LMOOCs. According to content analysis, learners have agreement on the positive aspects of LMOOC, including the learning environment, usability in language learning, inclusive educational technology, and parental presence. However, the learners’ attitudes were inconsistent regarding affective factors and feedback through LMOOCs. Finally, they believed that contextual factors are the barriers to using LMOOCs. We believe EFL authorities in Iran and other contexts should run more teacher education and professional development courses to enable teachers to learn how to teach through LMOOCs in practice.
Marine Origin Ligands of Nicotinic Receptors: Low Molecular Compounds, Peptides and Proteins for Fundamental Research and Practical Applications

The purpose of our review is to briefly show what different compounds of marine origin, from low molecular weight ones to peptides and proteins, offer for understanding the structure and mechanism of action of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and for finding novel drugs to combat the diseases where nAChRs may be involved. The importance of the mentioned classes of ligands has changed with time; a protein from the marine snake venom was the first excellent tool to characterize the muscle-type nAChRs from the electric ray, while at present, muscle and α7 receptors are labeled with the radioactive or fluorescent derivatives prepared from α-bungarotoxin isolated from the many-banded krait. The most sophisticated instruments to distinguish muscle from neuronal nAChRs, and especially distinct subtypes within the latter, are α-conotoxins. Such information is crucial for fundamental studies on the nAChR revealing the properties of their orthosteric and allosteric binding sites and mechanisms of the channel opening and closure. Similar data are provided by low-molecular weight compounds of marine origin, but here the main purpose is drug design. In our review we tried to show what has been obtained in the last decade when the listed classes of compounds were used in the nAChR research, applying computer modeling, synthetic analogues and receptor mutants, X-ray and electron-microscopy analyses of complexes with the nAChRs, and their models which are acetylcholine-binding proteins and heterologously-expressed ligand-binding domains.
SLIDING FRAGILITY OF UNRESTRAINED EQUIPMENT IN CRITICAL FACILITIES

The purpose of this research was to develop fragility information and rehabilitation strategies for nonstructural components in critical facilities. Shaking table tests with a range of excitations and system parameters is used to define stability bounds for pure sliding motion. Analytical and experimental results are compared to verify the validity of the tests and analytical models.
VALIDATION OF THE USE OF AUSTRALIAN INPUT-OUTPUT DATA FOR BUILDING EMBODIED ENERGY SIMULATION

Traditional! y, the simulation of buildings has focused 011 operational energy consumption in an attempt to determine the potential for energy savings. Whilst operational energy of Australian buildings accounts for around 20% of total energy consumption nationally, embodied energy represents 20 to 50 times the annual operational energy of 1110st Australian buildings. Lower values have been shown through a number of studies that have analysed the embodied energy of buildings and their products, however these have now shown to be incomplete in system boundary. Many of these studies have used traditional embodied energy analysis methods, such as process analysis and input-output analysis, Hybrid embodied energy analysis methods have been developed, but these need to be compared and validated. This paper reports on preliminary work on this topic. The findings so far suggest that current best-practice methods are sufficiently accurate for most typical applications, but this is heavily dependant upon data quality and availability.
Intelligent Reflecting Surface-Assisted Proactive Eavesdropping Over Suspicious Broadcasting Communication With Statistical CSI

This paper studies a novel wireless surveillance scenario, where a half-duplex legitimate monitor (E), aided by an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS), aims to eavesdrop the frequency division multiple access based suspicious broadcasting communication from a suspicious transmitter (ST) to multiple suspicious receivers (SRs). Under this setup, instead of eavesdropping the ST over all frequency bands (FBs), E proactively jams over certain undesirable FBs, i.e., jams certain SRs via E-SRs and E-IRS-SRs links, to deliberately force the ST reallocating more transmit power over the unjammed (eavesdroppable) desirable FBs. Then as a reward, E itself can achieve better eavesdropping over those FBs accordingly. Our objective is to maximize the sum ergodic eavesdropping rate of E, by jointly optimizing the set of jammed FBs, the jamming power allocation of E and the reflection coefficients at the IRS. A two-stage optimization procedure is proposed: i) given each possible jammed set, the jamming power allocation and the reflection coefficients are optimized via successive convex approximation and alternative iterations; ii) the optimal and sub-optimal jammed sets are further determined using the exhaustive search and the designed heuristic scheme. Results show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme compared to competitive benchmarks.
Improved Prediction Dynamics for Robust MPC

This article proposes a new model predictive control (MPC) control scheme for polytopic uncertain and/or time-varying systems with state and input constraints. The MPC policies we consider employ: 1) the intersection of ellipsoids to characterize the domain of attraction, 2) a time-varying Lyapunov function to bound from above the cost function, 3) a tailored alternating direction method of multipliers algorithm to solve efficiently the online optimization problem. With respect to other well-known techniques, the main advantage of the new approach is the reduced conservativeness.
Brain reactivity to emotion persists in NREM sleep and is associated with individual dream recall

Abstract The waking brain efficiently detects emotional signals to promote survival. However, emotion detection during sleep is poorly understood and may be influenced by individual sleep characteristics or neural reactivity. Notably, dream recall frequency has been associated with stimulus reactivity during sleep, with enhanced stimulus-driven responses in high vs. low recallers. Using electroencephalography (EEG), we characterized the neural responses of healthy individuals to emotional, neutral voices, and control stimuli, both during wakefulness and NREM sleep. Then, we tested how these responses varied with individual dream recall frequency. Event-related potentials (ERPs) differed for emotional vs. neutral voices, both in wakefulness and NREM. Likewise, EEG arousals (sleep perturbations) increased selectively after the emotional voices, indicating emotion reactivity. Interestingly, sleep ERP amplitude and arousals after emotional voices increased linearly with participants’ dream recall frequency. Similar correlations with dream recall were observed for beta and sigma responses, but not for theta. In contrast, dream recall correlations were absent for neutral or control stimuli. Our results reveal that brain reactivity to affective salience is preserved during NREM and is selectively associated to individual memory for dreams. Our findings also suggest that emotion-specific reactivity during sleep, and not generalized alertness, may contribute to the encoding/retrieval of dreams.