bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Management of Ksheena Shukra (Oligospermia) W.S.R. to Ashwagandhadi and Shatavaryadi Choorna – A Comparative Study
Authors: Gupta Anil
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Kama or sexuality is the root of procreation. Every married couple’s dream of getting their own progeny is  initiated, mediated, and formulated through this Kama. This is possible when the anatomical structures and physiological  functions of sex organs of both partners are intact. Otherwise, the whole intention becomes in vain. In nutshell, Kama  affects in sexual gratification and better progeny to lead happy life, which is perturbed in the absence of the same. Kama  is the third pursuit of the man (purushartha) also. The inability to procreate, i.e., infertility is such a condition, which  severely affects the couple’s psychological harmony, sexual life, and social stigma and ultimately leads to separation from  life partner and many a time to suicide. According to Ayurveda, Shukra should possess such a potency so as to conceive  a lady. The impact of defective Shukra is infertility. Although, in Ayurveda, many effective remedies for this disease are  mentioned without any known side effects, a major drawback attribute to these remedies is that they involve laborious  treatment procedures such as Shodhana procedures, where the patient has to be hospitalized and they have to follow strict  diet and regimen during these procedures and these procedures are more time consuming also. Materials and Methods: In the present study, the subjects were randomly selected according to the inclusion  and exclusion criteria, specifically designed, and were randomly placed into two Groups, namely Group A and  Group B containing 15 subjects each. Subjects of both Groups were given internally Hareetakyadi Choorna for  Mala Shodhana and till the Nirama Lakshana was obtained. Later, the subjects of Group A and Group B were given  Ashwagandhadi and Shatavaryadi Choorna, respectively, for 2 months along with Ksheera as Sahapana internally.  The follow-up period for both the groups was 2 months. Results: The assessment was done before the treatment, soon after the completion of the course of the treatment and  after the follow-up period, and thus, the total assessment was done based on the change in improvement observed,  before and after the treatment. Conclusion: On seeing the comparative efficacy of Group A and Group B, it is found that Group A is much effective on  parameters such as Dourbalya, Mukhashosha, Shrama, Sadana, Pandu, Sperm Count, Liquefication time, and sluggish  sperms whereas Group B is more effective on parameters such as volume, motile sperms, and non-motile/dead sperms.
Researching researchers: exploring the challenges of conducting research during a pandemic
Authors: Onuoha Onyinyechi , Lorenzetti Diane , Pearson Jacqueline , Lee Bernice , Beran Tanya
Published: June 2024

Background

Research assistants (RAs) are vital for the successful completion of research. When data collection and recruitment are dis-rupted, like during the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying restrictions, the effects on RAs attempting to conduct re-search are unclear.

Participants and procedure

This study explored RAs’ perspectives of conducting research during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five RAs who had begun collecting data at a mid-western children’s hospital on how a robot named MEDi® could help patients uphold health and safety procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic participated in semi-structured interviews.

Results

Thematic analysis of the interview data identified four key themes (and sub-themes) that reflected RAs’ experiences of con-ducting research during the COVID-19 pandemic: inspiration and motivation; research barriers; human connections and relationships; and creativity and problem-solving. The first theme focused on the sources of RAs’ inspiration and motivation to participate in research; the second focused on the barriers that affected data collection and recruitment. The third theme described the impact that human connections and relationships had on the success of the research, and the final theme explored the RAs’ creativity and problem-solving approaches, which aided in navigating the challenges faced during the pandemic. The RAs overcame the challenges with positive attitudes, creativity, and collaboration.

Conclusions

Overall, the results reveal how the RAs explored creative strategies to adapt research methods to suit unanticipated circum-stances and develop interpersonal skills to facilitate participation in future research and career activities.
Solidaridad y movilidades en las ciudades del Conosur latinoamericano: Experiencias locales en debates globales
Authors: Stefoni Carolina , Bravo Aline , Stang Fernanda
Published: June 2024

A partir de una revisión documental en tres países de la región (Argentina, Brasil y Chile) nos preguntamos por qué las experiencias de Ciudades Solidarias, Mercociudades e iniciativas locales adquieren un carácter distinto al de las ciudades santuario desarrolladas en los países del norte global. Planteamos que en el caso de los países analizados, estas experiencias se construyen en un ensamblaje que permite la convergencia entre los objetivos de los organismos internacionales de las Naciones Unidas -principalmente la Agencia de las Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados (ACNUR) y la Organización Internacional para las Migraciones (OIM)-, Mercosur, los Estados nacionales y las iniciativas locales. La convergencia entre estos niveles institucionales sería posible a partir de dos elementos que planteamos a modo de hipótesis: 1) que estos países lograron avanzar durante un tiempo en mecanismos orientados a favorecer la movilidad y el ingreso regular de personas migrantes. 2) Que se dieron importantes avances en materia de protección al refugio a partir de la Declaración de Cartagena. Ambos elementos, sin embargo, tuvieron dificultades en su implementación, generando grandes problemas en materia de inclusión y protección de derechos. De ahí que las iniciativas como Ciudades Solidarias y Mercociudades se dirijan principalmente a favorecer la inclusión social y cultural de esta población, pero no a resistir o contravenir medidas de los gobiernos centrales en materia de ingreso migratorio o políticas de refugio, al menos hasta ahora.
Kisses of a Chameleon: A Collection of Poems
Authors: Elikem Jacob Deladem
Published: June 2024

The events of life unfold. Many of the life’s issues are outside the scope of man’s ability to control while others are controllable. In all situations, one thing remains common- how the stories are told. Storytelling, songs, drama are but a few ways to carry the issues of a generation to the other. Kisses of a chameleon: a collection of poems is a rich outpour of original poems written to portray general life issues. These poems are a reflection of the writer’s environment and seeks to carry the reader on a journey across the ‘oceans of life’.Though a marketing professional, the writer is blessed with a natural talent of writing poems, oratory, Kente weaving, among others. Reading through these poems will take your mind to the writer’s African setting while speaking to some issues on the global seen in poetic language.
Characterization of Oils from Sandbox, Melon and Watermelon Seeds
Authors: Popoola C.A , Joshua Danbaki
Published: June 2024

This study examined the physicochemical properties and phytochemical composition of oils from sandbox (Hura crepitans), melon (Citrullus colocynthis L) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seeds. Physicochemical and phytochemical analyses of the oils were carried out using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC) standards procedures. Sandbox oil had highest saponification value, iodine value, acid value, ester value, viscosity, cloud point and pour point with lowest moisture content, free fatty acid, peroxide value, flash point and fire point when compare with oils from melon and water melon seeds. Oils from melon and water melon seeds have low acid value, which means it can be used as a good source of edible oil. The phytochemical screening of the oils revealed the presence of saponins, deoxysugar, terpenoids, cardinolides and steroids. These results revealed that oils from sandbox seed, melon and water melon seed have great potentials as industrially promising oils, with their high saponification and iodine values, they will be good raw materials for bio-lubricant production and for a variety of industrial applications.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES IN HISTORY
Authors: Elias Garcia Tatiane
Published: June 2024

The texts explore the works of Hannah Arendt and Reinhart Koselleck, highlighting their perspectives on the relationship between past, present and future, as well as the role of memory and history in the human experience. Arendt emphasizes the importance of political action and learning from the past to avoid historical mistakes. Koselleck introduces the categories “space of experience” and “horizon of expectation” to understand how past experiences and future expectations shape our perception of the present. Hartog's text expands the discussion on memory and history, showing how these elements relate and influence each other in the interpretation of historical events and the construction of individual and collective identity.
Analysis and Design of Natural Spring Water Preservation and Monitoring System Using Rapid Application Development
Authors: Singgalen Yerik Afrianto
Published: June 2024

Climate change in Indonesia has resulted in droughts in several regions, affecting both ecological conditions and the livelihoods of local communities in accessing clean water sources. Therefore, natural spring water preservation and monitoring are needed to identify and analyze the factors contributing to ecological changes. This research utilizes the Rapid Application Development method through the Oracle Apex instrument in designing the database and information system for natural spring water preservation and monitoring. The stages of designing this application are requirements planning, user design, construction, and cutover. Each stage has its challenges, namely the relevance of data to user needs in identifying and analyzing the sustainability of natural spring waters. The findings of this study demonstrate that information on natural spring water location, water quality, local community activities, and observer data play a crucial role in the decision-making process. Through this application, natural spring waters can be identified and protected through appropriate policies, thus contributing to Indonesia's sustainable water resource management and environmental conservation efforts. Additionally, the analysis and design results reveal insights into the structural framework and functionalities of the developed system, highlighting its potential to effectively address the complexities of natural spring water preservation and monitoring.
فعالية وسيلة العجلة الدوارة في ترقية مهارة القراءة الأساسية للطلاب المستوى الأول بجامعة دار الفتح
Authors: Sya'bani Muhammad Zaky , Nasihin Khairun , Bahruddin Uril
Published: June 2024

أصبحت الوسائل التعليمية حلاً للتخفيف من مشاكل التعلم المملة، ومن بينها وسائل التعلم العجلة الدوارة المطبقة في تعلم مهارة قراءة الأساسية، وقد أصبح التعلم مملًا حتى الآن بسبب عدم استخدام الوسائل في التعلم. ويهدف هذا البحث إلى تنفيذ وسيلة العجلة الدوارة في تعليم مهارة القراءة الأساسية. كانت المنهج المستخدم هي البحث التجريبي لدى طلاب المستوى الأول قسم تعليم اللغة العربية بجامعة دار الفتح. وأما نتائج هذا البحث أن هناك ارتفاع نتائج تعلم مهارة قراءة الأساسية لطلاب المستوى الأول قسم تعليم اللغة العربية. تم إثبات ذلك من خلال قيمة أهمية اختبار t للعينة المقترنة واختبار t للعينة المستقلة البالغة 0.00 <0.05، لذلك يوضح أن وسيلة عجلة الدوارة فعال في تطبيقها. وبالتالي يمكن أن نستنتج أن تطبيق العجلة الدوارة في تعلم مهارة القراءة الأساسية يمكن أن يحسن نتائج تعلم الطلاب
MENINGKATKAN KETERAMPILAN BERFIKIR KREATIF PESERTA DIDIK DENGAN MODEL PBL KELAS VII
Authors: SAIDAH NAFISATIN AWWALIN , TRIMULYONO GUNTUR , HIKMAH ZIYADATUL
Published: June 2024

Collaborative Class Action Research (PTKK) with the aim of improving the creative thinking skills of class VII students at UPT SMPN 10 Gresik. Based on the results of observations, problems were found in the learning process, the majority of students were less active, conventional, most students did not participate enough in learning and creative thinking skills had not yet emerged. The solution will be by applying a learning modelProblem Based Learning (PBL) to improve the creative thinking skills of class VII students at UPT SMPN 10 Gresik on ecology and biodiversity material in the even semester. Learning is carried out in two cycles, each cycle consists of two meetings, namely planning, action, observation and reflection. The data used is in the form of observation sheets and tests. The resulting data shows an increase in creative thinking skills as indicated by a pre-cycle percentage of 65.63%, an increase of 75% in cycle I, while cycle II increased to 87.5%. The final results in cycle II exceeded the target of 80%, so that the application of the problem-based learning model was proven to improve the creative thinking skills of class VII students at UPT SMPN 10 Gresik on ecology and biodiversity in the even semester.
ABSTRAKPenelitian Tindakan Kelas Kolaboratif (PTKK) dengan tujuan meningkatkan keterampilan berpikir kreatif peserta didik kelas VII UPT SMPN 10 Gresik. Berdasarkan hasil observasi masalah ditemukan pada proses pembelajaran peserta didik mayoritas kurang aktif, konvensional, sebagian besar peserta didik kurang berpartisipasi dalam pembelajaran dan keterampilan berpikir kreatif masih belum muncul. Solusi yang akan dilakukan dengan menerapan model pembelajaran Problem Based Learning (PBL) untuk meningkatkan keterampilan berpikir kreatif peserta didik kelas VII UPT SMPN 10 Gresik materi ekologi dan keanekaragaman hayati semester genap. Pembelajaran dilakukan dua siklus, persiklus terdiri dari dua pertemuan yaitu rencana, tindakan, pengamatan, dan refleksi. Data yang digunakan berupa lembar observasi dan tes. Data yang dihasilkan menunjukkan adanya peningkatan keterampilan berpikir kreatif yang ditunjukkan dengan presentase prasiklus sebesar 65,63%, meningkat dengan presentase 75% pada siklus I, sedangkan siklus II meningkat menjadi 87,5%. Hasil akhir pada siklus II melebihi target yakni 80%, sehingga penerapan model pembelajaran berbasis masalah terbukti meningkatkan keterampilan berpikir kreatif peserta didik kelas VII UPT SMPN 10 Gresik materi ekologi dan keanekaragaman hayati semester genap.
IDENTIFIKASI DIMENSI SKILL LULUSAN PENDIDIKAN VOKASI DENGAN KEBUTUHAN KETERAMPILAN KERJA DI INDUSTRI
Authors: ISNANDAR ISNANDAR , MULIADI MULIADI , NURMALASARI RIANA , MAULA PUTRINDA INAYATUL
Published: June 2024

Economic development strategies often target high-skill, high-wage industries and jobs. However, the relationship between skills and wages is not always balanced. The skills needed by workers in industry today include dimensions of skills for the benefit of the industry in the future. The aim of this research is to analyze the dimensions of workers' current skills related to the competencies they possess and the position they occupy so that the relationship between the two is known. This research was conducted by doctoral education students majoring in vocational education. The method used is quantitative to understand the dimensions of skills possessed by vocational education graduates who are currently working in industry. The results of this research show that all of these competency dimensions are very much needed because all workers, managers and positions within the company agree 66.7% that these dimensions are very important and needed in the future. Dimensions of competency in individuals such as task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills, job role environment skills and transfer skills are very important for employees and workers in industry to have.
ABSTRAKStrategi pembangunan ekonomi seringkali menyasar industri dan pekerjaan yang berketerampilan dan berupah tinggi. Namun hubungan antara keterampilan dan upah tidak selalu seimbang. Keterampilan yang dibutuhkan oleh pekerja di industri saat ini mencakup dimensi keterampilan untuk kepentingan industri dimasa depan. Tujuan penelitian  ini adalah menganalisis dimensi keterampilan pekerja saat yang berkaitan dengan kompetensi yang dimiliki dan jabatan yang diduduki sehinga diketahui keterkaitan antara keduanya. Penelitian ini dilakukan oleh mahasiswa pendidikan doktor jurusan pendidikan vokasi. Metode yang digunakan adalah kuantitatif untuk memahami dimensi skill yang dimiliki lulusan pendidikan kejuruan yag sedang bekerja di industri. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa semua dimensi kompetensi tersebut sangat dibutuhkan karena semua pekerja dan pegawai manager maupun posisi jabatan dalam perusahaan setuju 66,7% bahwa dimensi tersebut sangat penting dan dibutuhkan dimasa depan. Dimensi kompetensi dalam individu seperti task-skills, task management skills, contingency management skills, job role environment skills dan transfer skill sangat penting untuk dimiliki oleh pegawai maupun karyawan di industri.
OS DIREITOS DAS CRIANÇAS AUTISTAS E A NECESSIDADE DE AMPARO PSICOLÓGICO PARA OS PAIS
Authors: Nascimento Rafaella Martins , Silva Odi Alexander Rocha da
Published: June 2024

Este artigo pretende demonstrar como a falta de cuidado e tratamento psicológico aos pais de crianças com TEA, pode afetar negativamente no desenvolvimento das crianças. Mesmo que o autismo tenha sido amplamente discutido na atualidade, é crucial buscar fontes confiáveis de informação, consultar profissionais capacitados, estudos científicos e utilizar literatura que apoie a prática. Ademais, observa-se que o bem-estar mental dos pais é uma ferramenta crucial para um bom cuidado e desenvolvimento de crianças com TEA.
Approches statistiques pour les variables cachées en écologie
Authors: Peyrard Nathalie , Gimenez Olivier
Published: June 2024

L’étude des systèmes écologiques est souvent rendue difficile car certaines composantes échappent à une observation parfaite, comme les trajectoires d’animaux en mouvement ou la banque de graines des plantes. La modélisation statistique permet de traiter efficacement ces composantes cachées en utilisant le cadre des variables latentes, qui permet de modéliser une structure d’interaction sous-jacente entre les variables, d’inclure des effets aléatoires dans les modèles de régression ou d’effectuer une classification des données, autant de tâches utiles dans l’analyse des données écologiques.Approches statistiques pour les variables cachées en écologie présente des travaux récents sur la modélisation statistique et l’estimation dans des modèles avec variables latentes. Ces études sont illustrées par des exemples écologiques impliquant différents types de variables latentes, à différentes échelles d’organisation, des individus aux écosystèmes.Les lecteurs, qui ont accès aux données et aux codes R pour faciliter la compréhension des modèles, pourront ainsi adapter les outils d’inférence à leurs propres données.
Le plomb dans les matériaux vitreux du patrimoine
Authors: Bouquillon Anne , Lehuédé Patrice
Published: June 2024

Bien que le développement du cristal au plomb constitue une étape majeure dans l’histoire du verre à la fin du XVIIe siècle, la présence de plomb dans des matrices vitreuses (verres et glaçures) est beaucoup plus ancienne, son usage date du second millénaire avant notre ère.Le plomb dans les matériaux vitreux du patrimoine retrace l’histoire de ces savoir-faire et s’intéresse également aux développements les plus récents en sciences des matériaux concernant le rôle joué par le plomb dans les propriétés des verres, dont la coloration. Il développe la compréhension des processus d’altération et les notions de durabilité des verres au plomb. Il étudie également les problèmes de santé publique et les normes actuellement recommandées pour l’utilisation du plomb dans les verres industriels.Pluridisciplinaire, cet ouvrage s’adresse à un large public : historiens de l’art et des techniques, conservateurs de musée, restaurateurs, spécialistes des matériaux, industriels ou ingénieurs.
Évaluation des risques microbiologiques
Authors: Membré Jeanne-Marie
Published: June 2024

Selon l’OMS, chaque année dans le monde, une personne sur dix est malade après avoir consommé des aliments contaminés. Les maladies diarrhéiques sont responsables de 550 millions de cas. Évaluation des risques microbiologiques vise à caractériser la nature et la probabilité des dommages résultant de l’exposition humaine aux agents biologiques présents dans les denrées alimentaires.Après avoir fait un rappel sur la sécurité des aliments et l’évaluation des risques, cet ouvrage détaille les étapes de l’évaluation des risques microbiologiques : l’identification des dangers, l’évaluation de l’exposition subdivisée en méthodes de détection et de dénombrement des agents pathogènes, et la quantification du niveau d’exposition. De même, la caractérisation des dangers est subdivisée en mécanismes de pathogénicité, et quantification de la dose-réponse. Enfin, un guide pour la caractérisation du risque microbiologique est fourni.La conclusion présente des pistes pour le développement de l’évaluation du risque microbiologique, notamment son intégration dans une évaluation holistique des systèmes alimentaires.
Les enjeux de l’IRM
Authors: Ratiney Hélène , Beuf Olivier
Published: June 2024

Après un rappel des notions essentielles de l’imagerie par résonance magnétique (IRM), Les enjeux de l’IRM présente les récentes techniques et méthodes de l’IRM ainsi que les applications médicales qui en découlent. Ces techniques permettent d’accéder à des informations qui vont bien au-delà de l’anatomie avec des informations de type fonctionnel, hémodynamique, de structure, biomécanique ou encore biochimique. L’IRM permet de sonder de multiples façons le vivant et garantit un potentiel de développements continuel intégrant plusieurs disciplines (physique, électronique, sciences du vivant, traitement du signal ou médecine).Chaque chapitre de cet ouvrage collectif a été conçu par des experts de la communauté française en IRM. Ils se sont attachés à décrire les techniques en rappelant la physique sous-jacente et en détaillant également la modélisation, les méthodes et les stratégies d’acquisition ou d’extraction de l’information.Cet ouvrage s’adresse autant aux étudiants de master et doctorat qu’aux enseignants-chercheurs en imagerie médicale et hospitalo-universitaires.
Imageries optiques non conventionnelles pour la biologie
Authors: Fournier Corinne , Haeberlé Olivier
Published: June 2024

L’imagerie optique des systèmes biologiques a connu ces dernières années des développements spectaculaires, délivrant une quantité et une qualité d’informations qui, il y a une vingtaine d’années encore, relevaient du rêve pour les physiciens, les biologistes ou les médecins.Les systèmes d’imageries non conventionnelles permettent d’accéder à des grandeurs physiques (opacité, phase, indice optique, propriété de polarisation d’une onde ou composition chimique d’un objet) non accessibles aux systèmes de mesure conventionnels. Pour cela, ces systèmes utilisent des montages optiques particuliers et des traitements numériques spécifiques des images permettant la reconstruction de grandeurs physiques. On parle également d’imagerie computationnelle.Cet ouvrage présente diverses modalités d’imageries non conventionnelles développées pour le domaine biomédical : imagerie par analyse de front d’onde, holographie/tomographie numérique, nanoscopie optique, endoscopie et imagerie monodétecteur. Pour chaque modalité, les montages et les algorithmes de reconstruction sont présentés.
Assessment of uncertainties on stage-discharge rating curves: A large scale application to Québec hydrometric network
Authors: Mailhot Alain , Talbot Guillaume , Bolduc Samuel , Fortier Claudine
Published: June 2024

Abstract. Rating curves (RC), which establish a relationship between stage and discharge at a given cross-section of a river, are largely used by national agencies to measure flow. RC are constructed from gauging measurements and are usually represented by power functions, a mathematical function frequently used to represent stage-discharge relationship of standard hydraulic structures. Uncertainties on estimated flows based on rating curves can be significant, especially for high and low flow regimes. It is therefore important to report these uncertainties as accurately as possible. Many approaches estimating the sources of uncertainties on flows have been proposed but are generally too complex for large scale application to hydrometric networks. This paper proposed an approach to develop rating curves and assess the corresponding uncertainties on estimated flow that can be readily applied to large-scale hydrometric networks. This approach takes into consideration possible changes in RC over time due to hydraulic or geomorphologic modifications and assessed if one or two power functions are needed to adequately represent the stage-discharge relationship over the available range of gauged stages. RC at Quebec hydrometric stations have been constructed. Relative differences between flows estimated from the RC and gauged flows are used to assess uncertainties on estimated flow. They were adjusted to normal or logistic distributions with constant (stage-independent uncertainties) or stage-dependent scale parameters (stage-dependent uncertainties). Mean standard deviation on estimated flows for RC with stage-independent uncertainties (75.0 % of the RC) is 6.5 %, while for RC with stage-dependent uncertainties, they increase significantly at low stages reaching values larger than 20 % for some RC at the lowest gauged stage.
Changing effects of external forcing on Atlantic–Pacific interactions
Authors: Karmouche Soufiane , Galytska Evgenia , Meehl Gerald A. , Runge Jakob , Weigel Katja , Eyring Veronika
Published: June 2024

Abstract. Recent studies have highlighted the increasingly dominant role of external forcing in driving Atlantic and Pacific Ocean variability during the second half of the 20th century. This paper provides insights into the underlying mechanisms driving interactions between modes of variability over the two basins. We define a set of possible drivers of these interactions and apply causal discovery to reanalysis data, two ensembles of pacemaker simulations where sea surface temperatures in either the tropical Pacific or the North Atlantic are nudged to observations, and a pre-industrial control run. We also utilize large-ensemble means of historical simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) to quantify the effect of external forcing and improve the understanding of its impact. A causal analysis of the historical time series between 1950 and 2014 identifies a regime switch in the interactions between major modes of Atlantic and Pacific climate variability in both reanalysis and pacemaker simulations. A sliding window causal analysis reveals a decaying El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effect on the Atlantic as the North Atlantic fluctuates towards an anomalously warm state. The causal networks also demonstrate that external forcing contributed to strengthening the Atlantic's negative-sign effect on ENSO since the mid-1980s, where warming tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures induce a La Niña-like cooling in the equatorial Pacific during the following season through an intensification of the Pacific Walker circulation. The strengthening of this effect is not detected when the historical external forcing signal is removed in the Pacific pacemaker ensemble. The analysis of the pre-industrial control run supports the notion that the Atlantic and Pacific modes of natural climate variability exert contrasting impacts on each other even in the absence of anthropogenic forcing. The interactions are shown to be modulated by the (multi)decadal states of temperature anomalies of both basins with stronger connections when these states are “out of phase”. We show that causal discovery can detect previously documented connections and provides important potential for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving changes in regional and global climate variability.
Novel View Synthesis with Neural Radiance Fields for Industrial Robot Applications
Authors: Hillemann Markus , Langendörfer Robert , Heiken Max , Mehltretter Max , Schenk Andreas , Weinmann Martin , Hinz Stefan , Heipke Christian , Ulrich Markus
Published: June 2024

Abstract. Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs) have become a rapidly growing research field with the potential to revolutionize typical photogrammetric workflows, such as those used for 3D scene reconstruction. As input, NeRFs require multi-view images with corresponding camera poses as well as the interior orientation. In the typical NeRF workflow, the camera poses and the interior orientation are estimated in advance with Structure from Motion (SfM). But the quality of the resulting novel views, which depends on different parameters such as the number and distribution of available images, the accuracy of the related camera poses and interior orientation, but also the reflection characteristics of the depicted scene, is difficult to predict. In addition, SfM is a time-consuming pre-processing step, and its robustness and quality strongly depend on the image content. Furthermore, the undefined scaling factor of SfM hinders subsequent steps in which metric information is required. In this paper, we evaluate the potential of NeRFs for industrial robot applications. To start with, we propose an alternative to SfM pre-processing: we capture the input images with a calibrated camera that is attached to the end effector of an industrial robot and determine accurate camera poses with metric scale based on the robot kinematics. We then investigate the quality of the novel views by comparing them to ground truth, and by computing an internal quality measure based on ensemble methods. For evaluation purposes, we acquire multiple datasets that pose challenges for reconstruction typical of industrial applications, like reflective objects, poor texture, and fine structures. We show that the robot-based pose determination reaches similar accuracy as SfM in non-demanding cases, while having clear advantages in more challenging scenarios. We also report results of the novel view quality for different NeRF approaches, showing that an additional online pose refinement may be disadvantageous. Finally, we present first results of applying the ensemble method to estimate the quality of the synthetic novel view in the absence of a ground truth.
Efficient Calculation of Multi-Scale Features for MMS Point Clouds
Authors: Hiraoka Keita , Takahashi Genki , Masuda Hiroshi
Published: June 2024

Abstract. Point clouds acquired by Mobile Mapping System (MMS) are useful for creating 3D maps that can be used for autonomous driving and infrastructure development. However, many applications require semantic labels to each point of the point clouds, and the manual labeling process is very time consuming and expensive. Therefore, there is a strong need to develop a method to automatically assigning semantic labels. For automatic labeling tasks, classification methods using multiscale features are effective because multiscale features include features of various scales of roadside objects. Multiscale features are calculated using points inside spheres of multiscale radii centered at each point in a point cloud. When calculating multiscale features that are useful for classifying MMS point clouds, it is necessary to calculate features using relatively large radii. However, when calculating multiscale features using wide range of neighbor points, existing methods, such as kd-tree, require unacceptably long computation time for neighbor search. In this paper, we propose a method to calculate multiscale features in practical time for semantic labeling of large-scale point clouds. In our method, an MMS point cloud is first divided into small spherical regions. Then, radius search using multiscale radii is performed, and multiscale features are calculated using those neighbor points. Our experimental results showed that our method achieved significantly faster computational performance than conventional methods, and multiscale features could be calculated from large-scale point clouds in practical time.
Autonomous robotic drone system for mapping forest interiors
Authors: Karjalainen Väinö , Koivumäki Niko , Hakala Teemu , George Anand , Muhojoki Jesse , Hyyppa Eric , Suomalainen Juha , Honkavaara Eija
Published: June 2024

Abstract. During the last decade, the use of drones in forest monitoring and remote sensing has become highly popular. While most of the monitoring tasks take place in high altitudes and open air, in the last few years drones have also gained interest in under-canopy data collection. However, flying under the forest canopy is a complex task since the drone can not use Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for positioning and it has to continually avoid obstacles, such as trees, branches, and rocks, on its path. For that reason, drone-based data collection under the forest canopy is still mainly based on manual control by human pilots. Autonomous flying in GNSS-denied obstacle-rich environment has been an actively researched topic in the field of robotics during the last years and various open-sourced methods have been published in the literature. However, most of the research is done purely from the point-of-view of robotics and only a few studies have been published in the boundary of forest sciences and robotics aiming to take steps towards autonomous forest data collection. In this study, a prototype of an autonomous under-canopy drone is developed and implemented utilizing state-of-the-art open-source methods. The prototype is utilizing the EGO-Planner-v2 trajectory planner for autonomous obstacle avoidance and VINS-Fusion for Visual-inertial-odometry based GNSS-free pose estimation. The flying performance of the prototype is evaluated by performing multiple test flights with real hardware in two different boreal forest test plots with medium and difficult densities. Furthermore, the first results of the forest data collecting performance are obtained by post-processing the data collected with a low-cost stereo camera during one test flight to a 3D point cloud and by performing diameter breast at height (DBH) estimation. In the medium-density forest, all seven test flights were successful, but in the difficult test forest, one of eight test flights failed. The RMSE of the DBH estimation was 3.86 cm (12.98 %).
Ground vehicle path planning on Uneven terrain Using UAV Measurement point clouds
Authors: Otomo Kei , Ishikawa Kiichiro
Published: June 2024

Abstract. The objective of this study is to develop a system to support rapid ground vehicle activities by planning safe travel routes for ground vehicles from point clouds of wide-area uneven terrain environments measured using UAVs. However, fast path planning is difficult in complex environments such as large, uneven terrain environments. Therefore, this paper proposes a new RRT method based on the RRT algorithm that can perform fast path planning, even in complex environments. In the proposed method, narrow areas that are difficult to be explored by ordinary RRTs are first identified in advance, and nodes are placed in these areas to guide the search. When searching with RRTs, the tree is extended via these guide nodes to efficiently traverse the narrow area. In the validation of the proposed method, a comparison was made with RRT and RRT-Connect in two environments, including narrow areas. The results show that the proposed method has a higher route discovery capability, at least two times fewer search nodes and five times faster path planning capability than other RRTs.
Multitemporal Structure-from-Motion: A Flexible Tool to Cope with Aerial Blocks in Changing Mountain Environment
Authors: Genzano Nicola , Fugazza Davide , Eskandari Rasoul , Scaioni Marco
Published: June 2024

Abstract. The application of Structure-from-Motion (SfM) and Multi-View-Stereo matching with aerial images can be successfully used for deriving dense point clouds to analyse changes in the mountain environment, which is characterized by changes due to the action of natural process. The comparison of multiple datasets requires to setup a stable reference system, task that is generally implemented by means of ground control points (GCPs). On the other hand, their positioning may be sometimes difficult in mountains. To cope with this drawback an approach termed as Multitemporal SfM (MSfM) is presented: multiple blocks are oriented together within a unique SfM project, where GCPs are used in only one epoch for establishing the absolute datum. Accurate coregistration between different epochs depends on the automatic extraction of tie points in stable areas. To verify the application of MSfM in real cases, this paper presents three case studies where different types of photogrammetric data are adopted, including images from drones and manned aircrafts. Applications to glacier and mountain river erosion are entailed.
Climatic characteristics of the Jianghuai cyclone and its linkage with precipitation during the Meiyu period from 1961 to 2020
Authors: Zhu Ran , Chen Lei
Published: June 2024

Abstract. This study examines the climatic characteristics of 202 Jianghuai cyclones and their linkage with precipitation during the Meiyu period from 1961 to 2020. The results show that cyclones mainly originate from the eastern and western Hubei Province. Additionally, we explore the statistical characteristics of intensity, radius and their positive correlation. In studying the decadal variation of cyclones, we find a similar evolution between the cyclones and Meiyu precipitation. Therefore, we further investigate the correlation between the Jianghuai cyclones and the precipitation during the Meiyu period. There is a positive correlation coefficient of 0.77 between them. Notably, the percentage of precipitation affected by cyclone activities can reach up to 47 %. The anomalous increase in precipitation caused by cyclones north of 27° N can reach a maximum of 7 mm d−1. When a cyclone exists, a significant negative geopotential height anomaly at the 500 hPa level over Mongolia can be traced back to day −4. The abnormally enhanced WPSH (western Pacific subtropical high), southwesterly low-level jet and negative geopotential height are the dominant factors causing abnormal precipitation during Jianghuai cyclones. Before and after the cyclone develops, water vapor flux and divergence from low latitudes increase abnormally, providing sufficient water vapor conditions for the generation of cyclone precipitation.
Exploring the tidal response to bathymetry evolution and present-day sea level rise in a channel–shoal environment
Authors: Lepper Robert , Jänicke Leon , Hache Ingo , Jordan Christian , Kösters Frank
Published: June 2024

Abstract. Intertidal flats and salt marshes in channel–shoal environments are at severe risk of drowning under sea level rise (SLR) ultimately ceasing their function of coastal defense. Earlier studies indicated that these environments can be resilient against moderate SLR as their mean height is believed to correlate with tidal amplitude and mean sea level. Recent morphological analyses in the German Wadden Sea on the northwestern European continental shelf contradicted this assumption as mean tidal flat accretion surpassed relative SLR, indicating that nonlinear feedback between SLR, coastal morphodynamics, and tidal dynamics played a role. We explored this relationship in the German Wadden Sea's channel–shoal environment by revisiting the sensitivity of tidal dynamics to observed SLR and coastal bathymetry evolution over one nodal cycle (1997 to 2015) with a numerical model. We found a proportional response of tidal high and low water to SLR when the bathymetry was kept constant. In contrast, coastal bathymetry evolution caused a spatially varying hydrodynamic reaction with both increases and decreases in patterns of tidal characteristics within a few kilometers. An explorative assessment of potential mechanisms suggested that energy dissipation declined near the coast, which we related to a decreasing tidal prism and declining tidal energy import. Our study stresses the fact that an accurate representation of coastal morphology in hindcasts, nowcasts, and ensembles for bathymetry evolution to assess the impact of SLR is needed when using numerical models.
Akıllı telefon iPhone LiDAR tarayıcısının altyapı çalışmalarında uygulanabilirliği
Authors: Zeybek Mustafa
Published: June 2024

Son zamanlarda ışık algılama ve mesafe ölçme (LiDAR) sensörlerinin akıllı telefonlara entegre edilmesi, fotoğraf odak uzunluğunun iyi ayarlanmasının yanı sıra üç boyutlu (3B) iç ve dış mekan haritalama için yepyeni bir alternatif ölçme aracı olarak yerini almıştır. Bu yeni sistem sayesinde tarama teknolojisinin farklı disiplinlerde sivil kullanıma kapılarını aralasa da veri kalitesinin Jeodezik LiDAR ölçme seviyesi için henüz erken. İnce detayların ölçülmesini gerektiren işlemlerde sistem tamamen güvenilir olmayabileceği daha önceki çalışmalarda gösterilmiştir. Ancak, bu durum, akıllı telefon LiDAR’larının harita yapımında kullanımına tamamen engel değildir. Bu makale, Apple 14 Pro akıllı cihazının dış ortamlarda, özellikle altyapı çalışma kanallarının 3B modellemesinde belirli seviyelerde harita oluşturulmasına imkân verip veremeyeceğinin tartışılmasına odaklanmıştır. Özellikle, kanalizasyon, içme suyu gibi altyapı tesislerine ait 3B haritaları kanal yapı sahnelerinin yeniden yapılandırması, daha sonra yapılması planlanan bakım ve onarım çalışmaları için önemli bir konudur. Bu konuyla ilgili örnek çalışma olarak, Selçuk Üniversitesi Güneysınır Meslek Yüksekokulu doğal gaz bağlantı hattının geometrik yapısı ve rölatif konum belirlenmesi sunulmuştur. Altyapı çalışmalarında farklı yapılar ve sistemler tespit edilmiş ve bu katmanların belirlenmesi ve sonraki kazı aşamalarında bilgi sunması açısından bu çalışma önem arz ettiği düşünülmektedir.
Al-Hadm dalam Talak Bain Sughra Menurut Imam Malik
Authors: Altafiah Ahmad , Andrayuni Lilik
Published: June 2024

Imam Malik and Abu Hanifah have different opinions regarding divorce (talak). According to Imam Malik, talak one and talak two are not nullified if a woman marries another man and then returns to her first husband. Only talak three can nullify the previous divorces. Abu Hanifah believes that such a marriage can nullify talak three as well as the preceding divorces before talak three is pronounced. This research is a literature study using a normative approach to determine the legal basis for nullifying the number of divorces in specific situations. The deductive-inductive method is employed to draw conclusions from the research findings. Imam Malik utilizes various sources, including the Qur'an, Sunnah, ijma' Ahl Madinah, fatwas of the Companions, khabar ahad, qiyas, istishan, Al-maslahah Al-mursalah, and sad al-Zara'i, to establish the legal rulings. He refers to the fatwas of the Companions, particularly the jurisprudence of Umar Ibn Khattab, to explain al-hadm (continuation of the remaining divorces) in talak sughra. The purpose is to encourage husbands and wives to exercise caution and not misuse divorce, providing an opportunity for husbands to mend the broken bonds of marriage. However, Imam Malik's opinion is less relevant to the development of Islamic law in Indonesia. In Indonesian marriage fiqh, talak three nullifies the preceding divorces, aligning with the opinion of Abu Hanifah based on the Qur'anic foundations.
Infancia en la comunidad gitana: un análisis exploratorio sobre los colegios segregados
Authors: Pastor Medina Alberto , Castillo Yara Esperanza
Published: June 2024

El presente estudio se pregunta por la manera en que se ve afectado el derecho a la educación y cuidado infantil de los niños y niñas gitanas en situación de exclusión y segregación escolar en la Provincia de Alicante (España). Emplea un diseño fenomenológico para conocer la percepción de los niños, niñas y profesionales teniendo como variables: centro segregado y no segregado. Aunque la segregación escolar es un hecho no deseado en la actualidad, es tratado de manera fragmentaria y discontinua, cuando no ignorada con una aparente indolencia.
Determination of Creative Story Writing Skill Levels of Secondary School 7th Grade Students
Authors: Öztürk Ebru , Duran Erol
Published: June 2024

In this study, it was aimed to determine the creative story writing skill levels of seventh grade secondary school students. The research is a quantitative research and designed in survey design. The study group of the research consists of a total of 121 seventh grade secondary school students who were determined by convenience sampling technique. The research data were obtained by having the students in the study group write creative story texts and evaluating these texts with a rubric developed by the researcher. The collected data were presented as descriptive statistics (frequency, min. and max. values, arithmetic mean, standard deviation) with the help of statistical software. As a result of the research, it was determined that the scores of the students' creative story writing skills were generally low and medium level. In addition, in terms of sub-dimensions, except for two sub-dimensions (imagination, form), students' mean scores were found to be low and medium level.
Effectiveness of Capacity Building Lifestyle Modification on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) on Knowledge and Attitude Among Adolescent Girls of Udupi District, Karnataka - An Interventional Study
Authors: Silvy Mathias Jenifer , C Rao Anitha
Published: June 2024

PCOS is a hormonal condition that primarily affects young girls and women in their reproductive years. The female reproductive system is regulated by the intricate interactions of five reproductive hormones: progesterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and estrogen. PCOS is a hormonal condition caused by an imbalance in these hormones and it causes abundant body hair, acne, irregular or prolonged menstrual cycles, and hair loss. This study was conducted among 150 adolescent girls who are studying in Pre-University College of Udupi District, Karnataka. A simple random technique was followed in selecting the participants for the study. A demographic proforma, knowledge questionnaire, and attitude scale was used to collect the data from the participants. The pretest knowledge score of the experimental group was 59 (78.7%) (Moderate), 14 (18.6%) (Poor) and only 2 (2.7%) (Good) ,whereas in control group, the pretest score was 4 (5.3%) (Moderate), 71 (94.7%) (Average), none of them had good knowledge. Seventy five percent of the adolescent girls had an unfavorable attitude in both the experimental and control group. After the intervention, posttest knowledge score showed 75 (100%) (Good) and all had favorable attitude towards PCOS. Thus, the capacity building lifestyle modification program was effective to improve the knowledge and attitude regarding PCOS.

Key words: PCOS, knowledge, attitude, adolescent girls