Search

Pedestrian detection is a challenging and active research area in computer vision. Recognizing pedestrians helps in various utility applications such as event detection in overcrowded areas, gender, and gait classification, etc. In this domain, the most recent research is based on instance segmentation using Mask R-CNN. Most of the pedestrian detection method uses a feature of different body portions for identifying a person. This feature-based approach is not efficient enough to differentiate pedestrians in real-time, where the background changing. In this paper, a combined approach of scale-invariant feature map generation for detecting a small pedestrian and Mask R-CNN has been proposed for multiple pedestrian detection to overcome this drawback. The new database was created by recording the behavior of the student at the prominent places of the engineering institute. This database is comparatively new for pedestrian detection in the academic environment. The proposed Scale-invariant Mask R-CNN has been tested on the newly created database and has been compared with the Caltech [1], INRIA [2], MS COCO [3], ETH [4], and KITTI [5] database. The experimental result shows significant performance improvement in pedestrian detection as compared to the existing approaches of pedestrian detection and instance segmentation. Finally, we conclude and investigate the directions for future research.

This work reports the radon concentration level in the work environment of cement plants (CPs) located in the Sulaymaniyah city-North of Iraq. This survey for the radon concentration is performed in 24 sectors of three different CPs including Tasluja, Mass, and Bazian. The measurements were recorded using solid state nuclear track detector (CR-39 NTDs). The radon effective dose μSv/hr correlated weakly with the gamma effective dose μSv/hr to enhance the radon concentration measuring. The detector was fixed in different places of the plants such Crusher, Correction stores, Raw Mill (Grinding Mill), Preheater (Tower), Clinker, and Cement Storage. The arithmetic mean (AM) value of radon concentration (Ca) was found to be 98 ± 9, 101 ± 10, and 125 ± 10 Bq m−3 and the arithmetic mean value of annual effective dose (E) of radon was 0.767, 0.753, and 0.962 mSv y−1 for Tasluja, Mass, and Bazian CPs, respectively. The maximum values of about 222 ± 20 Bq m−3 and 1.402 mSv y−1, respectively, in sector III (Grinding) at Bazian CP. The achieved results reveal that the maximum value of radon concentration in all sectors of the CPs is below the international standard value (300 Bq m−3) of both the World Health Organization and International Commission on Radiological Protection.

Selected anthropometric measures of two hundred primary school pupils in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State were used to design classroom desks and tables. The relevant anthropometric measures were popliteal height, buttock-popliteal length, elbow rest height, hip breadth, shoulder height and elbow-hand grip. The pupils with age range from 5 to 14 years (mean = 9.8 years, SD = 2.9 years) were grouped into three age groups of 5-8 years, 9-12 years and 13-14 years. From the data obtained; 5th, 10th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th percentiles were computed. In addition, 2-Tail Paired samples T-Test was conducted for the measurements of the male and female pupils for the three- age groups at 0.05 level of significance. Based on the anthropometric data obtained, this paper proposes furniture design dimensions for seat height (32.0 cm, 37.3 cm and 40.3 cm for 5-8 years, 9 to 12 years and 13-14 years respectively). It proposes seat depth (33.0 cm, 38.0 cm and 41.0 cm for 5-8 years, 9 to 12 years and 13-14 years respectively) and seat width (30.0 cm, 31.0 cm and 31.0 cm for 5-8 years, 9 to 12 years and 13-14 years respectively). Moreover, it proposes backrest height (upper) (39.0 cm, 43.0 cm and 44.0 cm for 5-8 years, 9 to 12 years and 13-14 years respectively) and arm rest (12.0 cm, 13.0 cm and 15.0 cm for 5-8 years, 9 to 12 years and 13-14 years respectively). It also proposes desk height (42.0 cm, 49.0 cm and 53.3 cm for 5- 8 years, 9 to 12 years and 13-14 years respectively.

Radioactive materials, containing high-count rate, are found in some areas in the world which have worldwide use as construction and facing material. The radiation doses, in the Garmik area, are about 268.6 nGy h-1, which are density population by residents of ten of villages and two towns. The outdoor terrestrial gamma-ray background in some region of Garmik area was studied in order to determine the absorbed gamma dose rates of the soils and rocks. Gamma ray spectra have been recorded using the advance nuclear measurement system (digital spectroscopy analyzer DSA with NaI (TI) detector). This method is very suitable for measuring outdoor gamma radiation dose because the gamma count and human -radiation exposure will not be lost by the method by which the whole radiation exposure has been determined. A new equation has been formulated for this method. The total dose rates inside Sulaimani city was (42.873) nGy h-1 considered as a normal local outdoor dose rate (background). The average values of outdoor dose rates of the studied samples, in Tatan, Hangazhal and Garmik areas have been found to be (226.1005, 257.477,322.541) nGy h-1 respectively. These values are nearly 6 times grater than the normal local outdoor dose rate of the background of Northeastern Iraq. The dose rate of each radioactive elements or isotopes have been determined for each spectrum of each mentioned area which are equal to 8.4554, 67.0995, 66.9057, 50.6143 nGy h-1 for Sulaimani city, Tatan, Hangazhal and Garmik respectively. The total rate of radionuclide is about 22.76% of total outdoor dose rate.

Abstract Deployment of ultracold atom interferometers (AI) into space will capitalize on quantum advantages and the extended freefall of persistent microgravity to provide high-precision measurement capabilities for gravitational, Earth, and planetary sciences, and to enable searches for subtle forces signifying physics beyond General Relativity and the Standard Model. NASA’s Cold Atom Lab (CAL) operates onboard the International Space Station as a multi-user facility for fundamental studies of ultracold atoms and to mature space-based quantum technologies. We report on pathfinding experiments utilizing ultracold 87Rb atoms in the CAL AI. A three-pulse Mach–Zehnder interferometer was studied to understand the influence of ISS vibrations. Additionally, Ramsey shear-wave interferometry was used to manifest interference patterns in a single run that were observable for over 150 ms free-expansion time. Finally, the CAL AI was used to remotely measure the Bragg laser photon recoil as a demonstration of the first quantum sensor using matter-wave interferometry in space.

Abstract Several outstanding issues concerning the ionosphere of Mars can be addressed with the support of radio occultation observations acquired near the solar zenith angle limit of 45 $$^{\circ }$$ ∘ . First, two fundamentally different types of instruments (topside radar sounding, radio occultations) have been used to characterize how the subsolar peak density changes over the solar cycle. Here we find that their results for solar minimum and solar maximum values of peak density are consistent. This verifies that systematic errors do not affect peak density measurements from either type of instrument. Second, reported descriptions of how the peak altitude changes with solar zenith angle are inconsistent. Specifically, values reported by radio occultation and radar sounder instruments for the characteristic lengthscale used to describe changes in peak altitude with solar zenith angle vary by a factor of two. We find that the change in peak altitude with solar zenith angle is governed by a lengthscale that is close to the thermospheric scale height, as predicted theoretically. However, this behavior is only apparent when the Mars–Sun distance is held fixed. Reported smaller values of this lengthscale, which are not consistent with theoretical expectations, were adversely affected by using near-terminator peak altitude values only, which display marked variability. Third, Viking Lander entry science data have been interpreted to suggest that the M1 layer is not present in the ionosphere at solar zenith angles of 45 $$^{\circ }$$ ∘ or smaller. We show radio occultation observations at 45 $$^{\circ }$$ ∘ in which the M1 layer is present. This suggests that the basic structure of the dayside ionosphere remains the same at all solar zenith angles. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Saturn’s moon Titan was explored by the Cassini spacecraft from 2004 to 2017. While Cassini revealed a lot about this Earth-like world, its radar observations could only provide limited information about Titan’s liquid hydrocarbons seas Kraken, Ligeia and Punga Mare. Here, we show the results of the analysis of the Cassini mission bistatic radar experiments data of Titan’s polar seas. The dual-polarized nature of bistatic radar observations allow independent estimates of effective relative dielectric constant and small-scale roughness of sea surface, which were not possible via monostatic radar data. We find statistically significant variations in effective dielectric constant (i.e., liquid composition), consistent with a latitudinal dependence in the methane-ethane mixing-ratio. The results on estuaries suggest lower values than the open seas, compatible with methane-rich rivers entering seas with higher ethane content. We estimate small-scale roughness of a few millimeters from the almost purely coherent scattering from the sea surface, hinting at the presence of capillary waves. This roughness is concentrated near estuaries and inter-basin straits, perhaps indicating active tidal currents.

Abstract Background Sepsis is a life-threatening condition which may arise from infection in any organ system and requires early recognition and management. Healthcare professionals working in any specialty may need to manage patients with sepsis. Educating medical students about this condition may be an effective way to ensure all future doctors have sufficient ability to diagnose and treat septic patients. However, there is currently no consensus on what competencies medical students should achieve regarding sepsis recognition and treatment. This study aims to outline what sepsis-related competencies medical students should achieve by the end of their medical student training in both high or upper-middle incomes countries/regions and in low or lower-middle income countries/regions. Methods Two separate panels from high or upper-middle income and low or lower-middle income countries/regions participated in a Delphi method to suggest and rank sepsis competencies for medical students. Each panel consisted of 13–18 key stakeholders of medical education and doctors in specialties where sepsis is a common problem (both specialists and trainees). Panelists came from all continents, except Antarctica. Results The panels reached consensus on 38 essential sepsis competencies in low or lower-middle income countries/regions and 33 in high or upper-middle incomes countries/regions. These include competencies such as definition of sepsis and septic shock and urgency of antibiotic treatment. In the low or lower-middle income countries/regions group, consensus was also achieved for competencies ranked as very important, and was achieved in 4/5 competencies rated as moderately important. In the high or upper-middle incomes countries/regions group, consensus was achieved in 41/57 competencies rated as very important but only 6/11 competencies rated as moderately important. Conclusion Medical schools should consider developing curricula to address essential competencies, as a minimum, but also consider addressing competencies rated as very or moderately important.

Military recruitment policy pursued by the British administration in the Southern Kordofan region usually referred to as the Nuba Mountains region, during the period 1900-1945 is discussed. The war conditions of 1940-1945 greatly altered the course of the military recruitment policy, a fact apparent in the lifting of the restriction on the enlistment of Nuba migrants who were resident in the North.

This study was a prospective, comparative study, used to determine & compare the efficacy of treatment with methyldopa vs labetalol with respect to maternal – perinatal benefits and adverse effects. Conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Vivekananda Institute of Medical Science, Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan, a total 425 patients were taken into the study. The patients were divided into two groups by simple random sampling method. They were monitored throughout pregnancy and delivery till 7 days postpartum. The results obtained were divided in 3 sections Effective BP control, Maternal outcome, Perinatal outcome, which were again divided into three periods – Antepartum, Intrapartum and Postpartum for better elaboration. The study revealed that labetalol helps in quicker and more efficacious control of BP in mothers developing gestational hypertension with chances of developing preeclampsia – eclampsia syndrome.

Soil Moisture (SM) is a key geophysical variable that enables a better understanding of the Earth’s hydrological processes. Missions like Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) have been the primary sources of SM estimations for years. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, planned to launch in 2024, will bring L-band and S-band SAR measurements that will be used for SM estimation. Consequently, investigations to link SMAP with NISAR to produce accurate SM retrievals at improved spatial resolutions will be a focus to many research initiatives. This investigation aims to set the basis to use polarimetric Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) products to enhance the temporal resolution of NISAR’s L-band SAR data through its typical 12-day period. As a proof of concept, we model SMAP radar backscatter measurements from SMAP-Reflectometry (SMAP-R) measurements, using the 3 months of data collected by the SMAP radar while it was operational. The model is based on the sensitivity of polarimetric GNSS-R to roughness, vegetation, and SM, as well as on the complementary sensitivity existing between forward and backward scatter. Different regression models are implemented using single-, dual-, and full-polarization GNSS-R measurements synthetized from SMAP-R data. This study highlights the importance of the new constellations of polarimetric GNSS-R being built and shows how those frequent measurements can serve L-band SAR missions to improve their time resolution.