Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of conifer forest canopy cover on the accuracy of two individual tree measurement algorithms using lidar data

Individual tree detection algorithms can provide accurate measurements of individual tree locations, crown diameters (from aerial photography and light detection and ranging (lidar) data), and tree heights (from lidar data). However, to be useful for forest management goals relating to timber harvest, carbon accounting, and ecological processes, there is a need to assess the performance of these image-based tree detection algorithms across a full range of canopy structure conditions. We evaluated the performance of two fundamentally different automated tree detection and measurement algorithms (spatial wavelet analysis (SWA) and variable window filters (VWF)) across a full range of canopy conditions in a mixed-species, structurally diverse conifer forest in northern Idaho, USA. Each algorithm performed well in low canopy cover conditions (<50% canopy cover), detecting over 80% of all trees with measurements, and producing tree height and crown diameter estimates that are well correlated with field measurements. However, increasing tree canopy cover significantly decreased the accuracy of both SWA and VWF tree measurements. Neither SWA or VWF produced tree measurements within 25% of field-based measurements in high canopy cover (i.e., canopy cover >50%) conditions. The results presented herein suggest that future algorithm development is required to improve individual tree detection in structurally complex forests. Furthermore, tree detection algorithms such as SWA and VWF may produce more accurate results when used in conjunction with higher density lidar data.
Textural and sequence-stratigraphic controls on sealing capacity of Lower and Upper Cretaceous shales, Denver basin, Colorado

Shale units can be important barriers to fluid flow in sedimentary basins and commonly serve as seals to petroleum reservoirs. Little is known, however, about the controls on shale permeability. Consequently, variation in seal competency is one of the greatest risk factors associated with petroleum exploration.Here, we examine possible controls on sealing capacity in two Cretaceous marine shale units in the Denver basin, Colorado. Sealing capacity, as determined by mercury injection–capillary pressure analysis, is compared to several textural and compositional parameters and to sequence-stratigraphic setting. These two shale units display highly variable sealing capacity, even between some adjacent samples. This suggests that variability in some small-scale shale characteristics may strongly influence sealing capacity. The best seals are generally in transgressive systems tracts, especially within or immediately below condensed sections.Textural characteristics of shale appear to be especially important in determining sealing capacity. In particular, well-sorted pore-throat sizes and well-developed bedding-parallel preferred orientation of flattened organic matter particles strongly favor high sealing capacity. High degrees of bioturbation degrade sealing capacity, possibly by disrupting preferred orientation and by increasing variability in grain size and hence in pore-throat sorting. Preferred orientation of matrix clays parallel to bedding also appears to increase with increasing sealing capacity, but is probably less important than the preferred orientation of organic matter.Compositional characteristics are generally less important than textural characteristics in determining sealing capacity in these shale units. Neither silt content nor cement content appears to be important to sealing capacity in these shale units. Total organic carbon is generally high in samples with good sealing capacity, but can be either high or low where sealing capacity is poor.Overall, the variables that most strongly favor high sealing capacity, pore-throat sorting, organic matter bedding-parallel preferred orientation, and low bioturbation, are most likely in anoxic, deep-water settings, hence, the association between good seals and condensed sections.
SAMA Working Paper: Forecasting the Daily Stock Market Volatility of the TASI Index: An ARCH Family Models Approach

Autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH) family models are commonly used to model and forecast the volatility of stock markets around the world. The best-performing model differs, however, depending on the market and time period of interest. Based on twenty years of daily closing data from October 19, 1998, to April 5, 2018, which contains 5,195 trading days, this study seeks to reexamine the ARCH family model that most accurately forecasts the volatility of the Tadawul (i.e., the Saudi stock exchange) All Share Index (TASI). The data set is divided into in-sample and out-of-sample periods. The forecasting models of the study considers range from the simple ARCH and generalized ARCH (GARCH) (1,1) models to more complex models, including exponential GARCH (EGARCH) (1,1) and threshold ARCH (TARCH) (1,1). The study indicates that the EGARCH(1,1) model outperforms all other models in forecasting the short-term volatility of TASI index returns, whereas the GARCH(1,1) model outperforms all other models in forecasting the long-term volatility of TASI index returns.
Attention-based efficient robot grasp detection network

To balance the inference speed and detection accuracy of a grasp detection algorithm, which are both important for robot grasping tasks, we propose an encoder–decoder structured pixel-level grasp detection neural network named the attention-based efficient robot grasp detection network (AE-GDN). Three spatial attention modules are introduced in the encoder stages to enhance the detailed information, and three channel attention modules are introduced in the decoder stages to extract more semantic information. Several lightweight and efficient DenseBlocks are used to connect the encoder and decoder paths to improve the feature modeling capability of AE-GDN. A high intersection over union (IoU) value between the predicted grasp rectangle and the ground truth does not necessarily mean a high-quality grasp configuration, but might cause a collision. This is because traditional IoU loss calculation methods treat the center part of the predicted rectangle as having the same importance as the area around the grippers. We design a new IoU loss calculation method based on an hourglass box matching mechanism, which will create good correspondence between high IoUs and high-quality grasp configurations. AEGDN achieves the accuracy of 98.9% and 96.6% on the Cornell and Jacquard datasets, respectively. The inference speed reaches 43.5 frames per second with only about 1.2 × 106 parameters. The proposed AE-GDN has also been deployed on a practical robotic arm grasping system and performs grasping well. Codes are available at https://github.com/robvincen/robot_gradet.
Path guided motion synthesis for Drosophila larvae

The deformability and high degree of freedom of mollusks bring challenges in mathematical modeling and synthesis of motions. Traditional analytical and statistical models are limited by either rigid skeleton assumptions or model capacity, and have difficulty in generating realistic and multi-pattern mollusk motions. In this work, we present a large-scale dynamic pose dataset of Drosophila larvae and propose a motion synthesis model named Path2Pose to generate a pose sequence given the initial poses and the subsequent guiding path. The Path2Pose model is further used to synthesize long pose sequences of various motion patterns through a recursive generation method. Evaluation analysis results demonstrate that our novel model synthesizes highly realistic mollusk motions and achieves state-of-the-art performance. Our work proves high performance of deep neural networks for mollusk motion synthesis and the feasibility of long pose sequence synthesis based on the customized body shape and guiding path.
Indigenous practice on protection of Areca catechu Linn. seedlings – A case study in Meghalaya

The present study was conducted in the southern part of East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya dominated by tribe Khasi Wars where maximum land is under Areca nut plantation. Areca nut seedlings are seriously damaged by the grubs of a red palm weevil which kill the whole seedling. However, the Wars farmers with their traditional wisdom easily detect the infested seedlings and with their indigenous practices of “checking the grubs in nuts” locally known as “peit ksain kwai” control the damage of the young plants. Khasi Wars farmers’ knowledge for identifying and protecting Areca nuts damage in the young stage developed by indigenous initiative, inherited over generations, is very effective and still in practice.
INDICADORES DE CAPACIDADE DE USO DA TERRA PARA ESCALA DE PROPRIEDADE RURAL: DEFICIÊNCIA DE FERTILIDADE DO SOLO.

Avaliou-se a capacidade dos indicadores atividade de argila, saturacao por bases, saturacao por aluminio, carbono orgânico, teor de areia e fosforo remanescente em discriminar corretamente os diferentes graus de limitacao para deficiencia de fertilidade do solo, utilizando-se dados de setenta e nove glebas de quize propriedades rurais da regiao sul ocidental da Amazonia, coletadas por amostragem nao probalistica, a profundidade de 0 a 25cm. Algoritmos computacionais baseados nos indicadores classificaram as glebas quanto a limitacao de deficiencia de fertilidade em: nula, ligeira, moderada, forte e muito forte. Foram identificados quatro graus de limitacao quanto a deficiencia de fertilidade do solo: nulo (N), ligeiro (L), moderado (M) e forte (F). Os indicadores fosforo remanescente, teor de areia e saturacao por bases foram os mais relevantes na distincao dos diferentes grupos de limitacao, seguido pelos indicadores atividade de argila e carbono orgânico e, com menor relevância, a saturacao por aluminio. Os indicadores utilizados nao se mostraram suficientes para as distincoes dos ambientes quanto aos graus de limitacao de deficiencia de fertilidade do solo, implicando na necessidade de novas regras e/ou, indicadores para melhor caracterizacao da deficiencia de fertilidade do solo. Palavras-chave: Amazonia, ordenamento territorial, indicadores edaficos.
Scholar Works at Harding

This study examined the relationship among social media, interpersonal relationships, and self-conscious emotions. Participants responded to surveys that were distributed on Facebook and through email. The participants varied in age, gender, and ethnicity. Each participant responded to a four-part online survey. The survey contained the following scales: TOSCA (assesses the self-conscious emotions of shame and guilt proneness), Social Media Use (measures the usage of social media of the individual), and Dispositional Authenticity and Relationship Authenticity (measures interpersonal relationship). These three variables were analyzed quantitatively and compared to find significant negative correlations.
Upper atmosphere cooling over the past 33 years

Theoretical models and observations have suggested that the increasing greenhouse gas concentration in the troposphere causes the upper atmosphere to cool and contract. However, our understanding of the long‐term trends in the upper atmosphere is still quite incomplete, due to a limited amount of available and well‐calibrated data. The European Incoherent Scatter radar has gathered data in the polar ionosphere above Tromsø for over 33 years. Using this long‐term data set, we have estimated the first significant trends of ion temperature at altitudes between 200 and 450 km. The estimated trends indicate a cooling of 10–15 K/decade near the F region peak (220–380 km altitude), whereas above 400 km the trend is nearly zero or even warming. The height profiles of the observed trends are close to those predicted by recent atmospheric general circulation models. Our results are the first quantitative confirmation of the simulations and of the qualitative expectations.
The Impact of Big Data Analytics on the Employment of Technical Graduates in the IT Industry

This systematic literature review examines the employment of technical graduates in the field of big data analytics across a range of industries, including IT, finance, healthcare, retail, and logistics. The review synthesizes the findings of 23 studies published between 2012 and 2023, using a combination of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches. The review highlights the growing demand for technical graduates with skills in data analysis, data science, machine learning, and AI, as organizations seek to leverage the power of big data to improve decision-making, optimize operations, and enhance customer experience. However, the review also identifies several challenges associated with big data analytics and technical graduate employment, including the shortage of qualified candidates for data analysis and data science roles, and the need for technical graduates to possess a range of soft skills beyond technical knowledge. The review also highlights the potential of big data analytics to transform industries and create new job roles, such as in healthcare informatics, logistics optimization, and data governance. This trend is likely to continue in the coming years, as organizations increasingly rely on big data to drive innovation and gain a competitive advantage. Overall, this review un - derscores the importance of preparing technical graduates for the rapidly evolving field of big data analytics, and the need for ongoing research and innovation in this area. Employers, educators, and policymakers may need to adapt their strategies to meet the evolving needs of the labor market and ensure that technical graduates are well-positioned to succeed in their careers and contribute to the broader economy.
MULROONEY: FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A PILOT STUDY EXPLORING THE USE OF CULTURAL RECIPE AND STORY SHARING TO ENHANCE BELONGING AT UNIVERSITY

The global shift to online teaching and learning in response to the pandemic was potentially deleterious to sense of belonging and connection to the institution. Food is important in all cultures and has multiple functions, including making connections and welcoming others, in addition to specific cultural and religious meanings. The Cultural Food Stories project, a recipe and story sharing initiative, aimed to explore whether food could be used to enhance feelings of belonging within a higher education institution during the Covid-19 pandemic. Staff and students at a large widening participation university were invited to share a personally meaningful recipe as well as the story of why the recipe mattered. In addition, participants completed a short demographics questionnaire, including levels of agreement with statements on belonging derived from the literature. Optional online interviews were held. A total of 45 participants contributed 49 recipes and stories, and 12 online interviews were held. Participation increased sense of belonging in 73.8% of participants with no differences by demographic characteristics. Recipe stories commonly evoked people, places and emotions, maintaining connections through physical separation. This small project suggests that food may be used as a mechanism to enhance sense of belonging within higher education.
A Novel Sky Region Detection Algorithm Based On Border Points

Sky detection is an important problem in computer vision. Generally, the color and gradient of the pixel in sky border change greatly. So, sky in the scene can be detected by measuring the sky border points. In this paper, a new method for sky detection based on border points is proposed, where the border points in each column of image can be detected to complete complex sky region identification in image. Different to the existing sky detection methods, the proposed algorithm is efficient in detecting sky in scenes of complex structure, for example, sky which are separated by buildings or flags. Furthermore, the paper introduced the concept of sky border for the sky detection, which made the proposed scheme effective. The proposed method is able to handle even more complex sky conditions, including a cloudy sky and a sunny sky. Experimental results have proven that the effectiveness of this method.
Sensitivity of Staphylococcus Species From Fresh Raw Milk Samples to Common Antibacterial Agents in Parts of Kaduna State, Nigeria

The global problem of antimicrobial resistance is particularly pressing in developing countries of which Nigeria is not left out. The aim of the study is to test the susceptibility or resistance of Staphylococcus species from milk samples to commonly used antibiotics. A total of 592 quarter milk samples, 30 bulk milk samples and 27 swab samples of the hands of milk men were examined from 12 dairy farms in Kaduna and Zaria. One hundred and three (103) Staphylococcal isolates that were Gram positive and catalase positive were identi�ed biochemically, out of which the identities of 51 different Staphylococcal species were con�rmed using the Microbact Microgen kit. From these, 30 selected isolates were tested against 9 commonly used antibiotics. The antibacterial sensitivity pattern of the 30 isolates to common antibiotics showed a complete (100%) resistance to Amoxicillin and a complete (100%) susceptibility to Cipro�oxacin, but the isolates showed varying degrees of resistance & susceptibility to the other antibacterial agents. All the isolates exhibited multiple antibiotic resistance to 3–6 antibiotics. Methicillin resistance was manifested in the resistance of the organisms to Cefoxintin (a surrogate of Methicillin).
Characterization of groundwater chemistry in the coastal plain-sand aquifer of Owerri using factor analysis

Groundwater is a valuable natural resource for various human activities. Factor analysis was applied to the hydrochemical data from the coastal plain-sand (Benin Formation) aquifers of Owerri in order to extract the principal factors responsible for the different hydrochemical facies. By using Kaiser Normalization, the principal factors were extracted from the data. The analysis reveals five sources of solutes. The processes responsible for their enrichment includes: leaching of the overlying rock, seawater intrusion, chemical weathering, agricultural practices, dissolution of carbonate mineral and industrial effluent. Such processes are dominated by the significant role of anthropogenic interference with the groundwater from the aquifer in the area. The identified factors have contributed to the changes of the groundwater chemistry. The effectiveness of the method in characterizing groundwater hydrochemical facies is very high. Key words: Factor analysis, groundwater chemistry, Benin formation, Owerri, Nigeria.
Socioeconomic Root Causes of Biodiversity Loss in Madagascar

In 2000 and 2001 a root cause analysis was conducted for the Spiny Forest Ecoregion in Madagascar, identifying the local level root causes of biodiversity loss in the ecoregion as well as the policy and institutional issues at the national and international levels that contribute to them. Most of the research was conducted in and around Tulear and Fort Dauphin. Findings will be used to develop a strategic action plan for the ecoregion. The direct threats to biodiversity loss in the ecoregion are forest clearing, land conversion, and habitat alteration. Root causes include demand for wood as a primary source of fuel for rural and urban populations, limited technical support to farmers, and the tying of land ownership to forest clearing. The current situation of deforestation, heavy land use, poverty and urban expansion is exacerbated by population growth and in-migration. In the regional government, lack of both management skills and training to execute programs and enforce laws is compounded by uncomplimentary and uncoordinated national policies. The deregulation of the agriculture sector—including the reduction of export taxes on all agricultural commodities, the elimination of cheap urban food policies in the late 1990s, and currency devaluation—contributed to increased agricultural production and exports, further driving deforestation. Recommendations include the establishment of formal land tenure rights; enhancement of agricultural extension services; improved market access and economic development for agricultural crops and alternative forest products, including medicinal plants; and increased access to micro-credit by the poor. Avenues for promotion of linkages between the ministries that oversee the environment and economic and social development are identified.
The first dinosaur tracksite from Xinjiang, NW China （Middle Jurassic Sanjianfang Formation, Turpan Basin） a preliminary report

新恐龙 tracksite 在 Turpan 盆的 Shanshan 区域在中间的侏罗记 Sanjianfang 形成的陡峭地使倾向的沙岩层被发现。 地点是从在西北的中国的 Xinjiang 省的恐龙脚印的第一个记录。 超过 150 个有三指的 theropod 恐龙脚印在有细密纹理的沙岩身体的更低的床上用品飞机上作为积极 hyporeliefs 被保存。 大多数脚印被孤立并且看起来随机分布式。 一些显示出明确的 phalangeal 垫，脚跟并且很少跗基节的远侧的部分的模糊印象。 二不同 morphotypes 是在场的：有到 Changpeipus 和 Megalosauripus 的相对宽广的垫表演类似的一种更大的类型，和类似于 Grallator， Eubrontes 和 Anchisauripus 的一种稍微更小、苗条、纤细优美的类型。 在两 morphotypes，位 III 与在 11.4 和 33.6 厘米之间的长度是最长的。 一个单个印记显示出突出的擦伤，可能在跑道制造者滑倒期间形成了。
More than a principal: Ubuntu at the heart of successful school leadership in the Western Cape

School leadership matters. After teachers and teaching, school leadership is the most important determinant of learner achievement in school. Despite this, there is still uncertainty regarding what successful school leadership is and what successful school leaders do in non-Western contexts. In this mixed methods study I explored successful high school leadership in South Africa. Specifically, a questionnaire was administered to 38 principals from academically high-achieving schools from a range of socioeconomic contexts throughout the Western Cape, and 14 principals were interviewed. An integrated analysis reveals the paradox of uniqueness and universality of successful school leadership in South Africa, outlining that while there is no single best approach, various similarities exist between successful school leaders and established international literature. I found that successful principals adapt to their context, amalgamate transformational, instructional and distributed leadership styles, set direction, develop people, constantly realign the school with teaching and learning, and, importantly, strive to make a difference in the lives of others. It is about leading with Ubuntu. By highlighting these characteristics and practices, I offer theoretical, practical and personal advice to current and aspiring school leaders, academics and policy makers.
Trace Amine-Associated Receptors and Monoamine-Mediated Regulation of Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic Islets

Currently, metabolic syndrome treatment includes predominantly pharmacological symptom relief and complex lifestyle changes. Trace amines and their receptor systems modulate signaling pathways of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, which are involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is expressed in endocrine organs, and it was revealed that TAAR1 may regulate insulin secretion in pancreatic islet β-cells. For instance, accumulating data demonstrate the positive effect of TAAR1 agonists on the dynamics of metabolic syndrome progression and MetS-associated disease development. The role of other TAARs (TAAR2, TAAR5, TAAR6, TAAR8, and TAAR9) in the islet’s function is much less studied. In this review, we summarize the evidence of TAARs’ contribution to the metabolic syndrome pathogenesis and regulation of insulin secretion in pancreatic islets. Additionally, by the analysis of public transcriptomic data, we demonstrate that TAAR1 and other TAAR receptors are expressed in the pancreatic islets. We also explore associations between the expression of TAARs mRNA and other genes in studied samples and demonstrate the deregulation of TAARs’ functional associations in patients with metabolic diseases compared to healthy donors.