A Computer Vision System to Localize and Classify Wastes on the Streets

Littering quantification is an important step for improving cleanliness of cities. When human interpretation is too cumbersome or in some cases impossible, an objective index of cleanliness could reduce the littering by awareness actions. In this paper, we present a fully automated computer vision application for littering quantification based on images taken from the streets and sidewalks. We have employed a deep learning based framework to localize and classify different types of wastes. Since there was no waste dataset available, we built our acquisition system mounted on a vehicle. Collected images containing different types of wastes. These images are then annotated for training and benchmarking the developed system. Our results on real case scenarios show accurate detection of littering on variant backgrounds

Decadal-centennial scale monsoon variations in the Arabian Sea during the Early Holocene

An essential prerequisite for the prediction of future climate change due to anthropogenic input is an understanding of the natural processes that control Earth's climate on timescales comparable to human-lifespan. The Early Holocene period was chosen to study the natural climate variability in a warm interval when solar insolation was at its maximum. The monsoonal system of the Tropics is highly sensitive to seasonal variations in solar insolation, and consequently marine sediments from the region are a potential monitor of past climate change. Here we show that during the Early Holocene period rapid

Decadal changes of the Western Arabian sea ecosystem

Historical data from oceanographic expeditions and remotely sensed data on outgoing longwave radiation, temperature, wind speed and ocean color in the western Arabian Sea (1950–2010) were used to investigate decadal trends in the physical and biochemical properties of the upper 300 m. 72 % of the 29,043 vertical profiles retrieved originated from USA and UK expeditions. Increasing outgoing longwave radiation, surface air temperatures and sea surface temperature were identified on decadal timescales. These were well correlated with decreasing wind speeds associated with a reduced Siberian High atmospheric anomaly. Shoaling of the oxycline and nitracline was observed as well as acidification of the upper 300 m. These physical and chemical changes were accompanied by declining chlorophyll-a concentrations, vertical macrofaunal habitat compression, declining sardine landings and an increase of fish kill incidents along the Omani coast

An excess Ra-226 chronology for deep-sea sediments from Saanich Inlet, British Columbia

To further explore the efficacy of 226Ra(excess) dating for deep-sea sediments, previously dated varve sediments from Saanich Inlet were investigated. Ages obtained using 226Ra(excess) are comparable to the varve ages in the upper 20-25 m of the sedimentary record, but radiometric ages for those sediments older than c. 4000 yr BP are significant underestimates. This results from major changes in sedimentation within Saanich Inlet around 4000 yr BP linked to rising sea levels, with younger sediments characterised by a higher biogenic contribution resulting from the establishment of an anoxic fjord environment. The older sediments were deposited in a shallow water inlet characterised by variable Ra mass balance and non-radiogenic losses. Therefore, while 226Ra(excess) can produce reliable dates, its application may be limited where the relative significance of authigenic and allogenic input and bottom water anoxia have been variable and where closed-system behaviour is compromised

Kajian Pendampingan Pastoral Terhadap Kenakalan Pemuda Pada Masa COVID-19 Di Jemaat HKBP Jatikarya-Binjai, Sumatera Utara

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji kenakalan pemuda HKBP Jatikarya dari perspektif pendampingan pastoral dengan memusatkan perhatian kepada kenakalan pemuda yang semakin tinggi pada masa COVID-19. Penelitian menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif melihat substansi realitas kenakalan pemuda ketika pelaksanaan praktik pendidikan lapangan di gereja HKBP Jatikarya. Penelitian ini juga mengambil bahan referensi dari beberapa buku dan jurnal serta wawancara secara tidak terstruktur dengan pendeta, penatua gereja, orangtua/jemaat dan pemuda yang bersangkutan untuk mencapai tujuan penelitian. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ada beberapa faktor penyebab kenakalan pemuda yang terjadi pada masa COVID-19 seperti: kejenuhan dan tingkat stress, kurangnya komunikasi dan kepedulian orangtua, perkembangan teknologi yang semakin canggih dan pengaruh teman. Hal ini menyebabkan pemuda mudah stress dan emosional, memiliki sifat individualisme dan egoisme, keluar rumah tidak permisi, memaksakan kehendak dan bahkan menganggu masyarakat yang lainnya. Untuk itulah perlu adanya pendampingan pastoral untuk mendampingi pemuda dalam menyikapi faktor-faktor penyebab kenakalan dan pemuda perlu mendapatkan perhatian khusus sebagai upaya pencapaian untuk mengurangi dan bahkan menghindari dampak daripada kenakalan pemuda yang terjadi tersebut. Penelitian ini lebih lanjut juga direkomendasikan untuk peneliti selanjutnya yang ingin mengembangkan model pendampingan pastoral terhadap kenakalan pemuda yang disebabkan karena adanya faktor yang lainnya. Sehingga, harapan kedepannya pemuda bisa lebih diperhatikan dan diberikan perhatian khusus dengan melalukan pendampingan.This study aims to look at HKBP Jatikarya's juvenile delinquency from the perspective of pastoral assistance with a focus on juvenile delinquency which increased during the COVID-19 period. This study uses a qualitative research method with a descriptive approach to see the substance of the reality of juvenile delinquency when conducting field education practices at the HKBP Jatikarya church. This study also took reference materials from several books and journals as well as unstructured interviews with pastors, church leaders, parents/congregations and the youth concerned to achieve the research objectives. The results showed that there were several factors causing juvenile delinquency that occurred during the COVID-19 period, such as: boredom and stress levels, lack of communication and attention from parents, increasingly sophisticated technological developments and the influence of friends. This causes adolescents to be easily stressed and emotional, have individualistic and selfish traits, leave the house without permission, force their will and even disturb other people. For this reason, pastoral assistance is needed to assist adolescents in overcoming the factors that cause juvenile delinquency and juvenile delinquency needs special attention as an achievement effort to reduce and even avoid the impact of juvenile delinquency that occurs. This research is also recommended for future researchers who want to develop a pastoral assistance model for juvenile delinquency caused by other factors. So it is hoped that in the future the younger generation can pay more attention and give special attention to them by providing assistance

The effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic therapy: A systematic review of empirical studies.

Background: There is a gap in the research literature on the effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic therapies (LPT). Aim: To present a systematic review of studies dealing with LPT effectiveness and published from 1970 onward. Methods: A systematic literature search for studies dealing with the effectiveness of individual LPT in ambulatory, adult patients. Data about the overall effectiveness of LPT, its impact on symptom reduction, and its effect on personality changes were pooled both at treatment termination and at follow-up, using effect sizes (ESs) and success rates. Results:We found 27 studies (n= 5063). Psychotherapy yielded large mean ESs (0.78 at termination; 0.94 at follow-up) and high mean overall success rates (64% at termination; 55% at follow-up) in moderate/mixed pathology. The mean ES was larger for symptom reduction (1.03) than for personality change (0.54). In severe pathology, the results were similar. Psychoanalysis achieved large mean ESs (0.87 at termination; 1.18 at follow-up) and high mean overall success rates (71% at termination; 54% at follow-up) in moderate pathology. The mean ES for symptom reduction was larger (1.38) than for personality change (0.76). Conclusion: Our data suggest that LPT is effective treatment for a large range of pathologies, with moderate to large effects. (HARV REV PSYCHIATRY 2009;17:1–23.

Multidecadal variability in Atlas cedar growth in northwest Africa during the last 850 years: implications for dieback and conservation of an endangered species

Widespread forest dieback is a phenomenon of global concern that requires an improved understanding of the relationship between tree growth and climate to support conservation efforts. One priority for conservation is the Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica), an endangered species exhibiting dieback throughout its North African range. In this study, we evaluate the long-term context for recent dieback and develop a projection of future C. atlantica growth by exploring the periodic variability of its growth through time. First, we present a new C. atlantica tree- ring chronology (1150–2013 CE) from the Middle Atlas mountains, Morocco. We then compare the new chronology to existing C. atlantica chronologies in Morocco and use principal components analysis (PCA) to isolate the common periodic signal from the seven longest available records (PCA7, 1271–1984 CE) in the Middle and High Atlas portions of the C. atlantica range. PCA7 captures 55.7% of the variance and contains significant multidecadal ( ̃95yr, ̃57yr, ̃21yr) periodic components, revealed through spectral and wavelet analyses. Parallel analyses of historical climate data (1901–2016 CE) suggests that the multidecadal growth signal ori- ginates primarily in growing season (spring and summer) precipitation variability, compounded by slow- changing components of summer and winter temperatures. Finally, we model the long-term growth patterns between 1271–1984 CE using a small number (three to four) of harmonic components, illustrating that sup- pressed growth since the 1970s – a factor implicated in the dieback of this species – is consistent with recurrent climatically-driven growth declines. Forward projection of this model suggests two climatically-favourable periods for growth in the 21st century that may enhance current conservation actions for the long-term survival of the C. atlantica in the Middle and High Atlas mountains