Balanced Input Research Articles

Problems affecting procurement performance in Metro Kalibo Water District

The purpose of the study is to assess the problems affecting procurement performance that may be used to develop procurement methods and procedures for enhanced operational efficiency in Metro Kalibo Water District in the Philippines. The research design used in this study was descriptive-quantitative design. The respondents of the study were the ninety-nine employees of Metro Kalibo Water District. The study covered the period of one calendar year, from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, and was limited only to demographic profile of employees, problems affecting procurement performance, and the measures to address the problems affecting procurement performance in Metro Kalibo Water District. The assessment of procurement performance at Metro Kalibo Water District is enriched by a diverse and highly educated workforce, including many with advanced degrees. This diversity provides a comprehensive range of expertise, with balanced input from both operational and managerial staff, and perspectives from employees with varying lengths of service. The distribution across different salary grades further enhances the multifaceted understanding of procurement functions. The Metro Kalibo Water District highlights the importance of effective procurement planning, clear procedures, staff competency, and adequate resource allocation. There is a significant relationship between employee demographics and procurement problems, as well as between these problems and the measures to address them, emphasizing the interconnected nature of these factors in achieving efficiency and transparency.

Using the visual cliff and pole descent assays to detect binocular disruption in mice.

Amblyopia, a neurodevelopmental visual disorder characterized by impaired stereoacuity, is commonly modeled in animals using monocular deprivation (MD) during a critical period of visual development. Despite extensive research at the synaptic, cellular and circuit levels of analysis, reliable behavioral assays to study stereoscopic deficits in mice are limited. This study aimed to characterize the Visual Cliff Assay (VCA) and the Pole Descent Cliff Task (PDCT) in mice, and to evaluate their utility in detecting binocular dysfunction. Using these assays, we investigated the impact of clinically relevant manipulations of binocular vision, including monocular occlusion, pupillary dilation, and amblyopia induced by long-term MD. Our findings reveal that optimal performance in both the VCA and PDCT are dependent on balanced binocular input. However, deficits after MD in the VCA exhibited relatively small effect sizes (7-14%), requiring large sample sizes for statistical comparisons. In contrast, the PDCT demonstrated larger effect sizes (43-61%), allowing for reliable detection of binocular dysfunction with a smaller sample size. Both assays were validated using multiple monocular manipulations relevant to clinical paradigms, with the PDCT emerging as the preferred assay for detecting deficits in stereoscopic depth perception in mice. These findings provide a robust framework for using the VCA and PDCT in mechanistic and therapeutic studies in mice, offering insights into the neural mechanisms of binocular vision and potential interventions for amblyopia.

Decoupling of peeling and ballooning thresholds for pedestal stability and reduction in ELM frequency via enhanced turbulence with edge electron cyclotron heating in DIII-D

The edge localized mode (ELM) frequency (f ELM) decreased by 63% when electron cyclotron heating (ECH) deposition location is shifted from ρ = 0.4 to ρ = 0.8 in DIII-D discharges where the power ratio between neutral beam injection (NBI) and ECH (P NBI/P ECH) is kept at ∼1. The performance of the pedestal in the ECH heated case is compared with a pure NBI reference discharge while keeping the total input power constant. All these discharges are performed at balanced input torque conditions. Furthermore, in the pure NBI discharge a strong decoupling of the peeling–ballooning (PB) thresholds is observed. The PB decoupling is preserved when the ECH is deposited at ρ = 0.8 and P NBI/P ECH ∼ 1, while the thresholds manifest a closed stability boundary when the ECH is deposited at ρ = 0.4. The inter-ELM pedestal recovery time is considerably larger for the ECH at ρ = 0.8 case. Increased pedestal turbulence is observed in beam emission spectroscopy (BES), Doppler backscattering and magnetic diagnostics for the ECH at the ρ = 0.8 case. Strong growth of a TEM-like mode is observed in BES and the mode growth is correlated with the decrease in f ELM. In view of these observations, the increased pedestal turbulence seems to be the plausible reason behind the delayed pedestal recovery following an ELM event in the ECH at ρ = 0.8 case, and the preservation of PB decoupling through temperature pedestal profile widening. TRANSP interpretative simulations show that the ECH at the ρ = 0.8 case is more susceptible to ITG/TEM turbulence.

Few-Shot Object Detection in Remote Sensing Images via Data Clearing and Stationary Meta-Learning

Nowadays, the focus on few-shot object detection (FSOD) is fueled by limited remote sensing data availability. In view of various challenges posed by remote sensing images (RSIs) and FSOD, we propose a meta-learning-based Balanced Few-Shot Object Detector (B-FSDet), built upon YOLOv9 (GELAN-C version). Firstly, addressing the problem of incompletely annotated objects that potentially breaks the balance of the few-shot principle, we propose a straightforward yet efficient data clearing strategy, which ensures balanced input of each category. Additionally, considering the significant variance fluctuations in output feature vectors from the support set that lead to reduced effectiveness in accurately representing object information for each class, we propose a stationary feature extraction module and corresponding stationary and fast prediction method, forming a stationary meta-learning mode. In the end, in consideration of the issue of minimal inter-class differences in RSIs, we propose inter-class discrimination support loss based on the stationary meta-learning mode to ensure the information provided for each class from the support set is balanced and easier to distinguish. Our proposed detector’s performance is evaluated on the DIOR and NWPU VHR-10.v2 datasets, and comparative analysis with state-of-the-art detectors reveals promising performance.

Performance and community acceptance of paddy management with balanced input cultivation technology in Kebonagung Village Madiun East Java Indonesia

By integrating balanced rice growing technology components, getting rice organoleptic tests from the rice produced, and learning about the community acceptability of the applied technology components, this study seeks to ascertain the growth response and NSV production of specific and site-specific rice. The study was carried out in rice paddies. five different types of technology bundles in a randomized group trial design. Each treatment unit and replication in the five iterations of the experiment used 0.3 ha. Acceptance in the community using a survey approach with fifty participants. The results indicated that the Inpari 42 and Inpari 45 seedlings developed the tallest plants between 77 and 81 days after planting. Inpari 32 had the most tillers, which was the same as Inpari 42 and Pamelen. Pamelen yielded the most productive tillers and the least amount of non-productive tillers. The largest plant height was measured 98–102 days following the Inpari 42 seedlings, while the highest number of tillers were found in Pamelen, Inpari 32, and Inpari 42. Inpari 42 has the widest flag leaf area. The most abundant grain component produced by Inpari 42 is the number of grains per panicle and the full grain per panicle. The highest production is produced by Inpari 32. The panelists' favored rice varieties were Inpari 32, Inpari 42, and Inpari 45 based on the rice's organoleptic test results (color, aroma, taste, and texture). Inpari 32, Inpari 45, and Inpari Nutrizinc rice had greater brightness. Inpari 45 is yellowish, and Pamelen is quite red. Pamelen and Inpari Nutrizinc are the same. The high adoption rate of 8766 % and the rapid diffusion of applied technology to nearby villages and other regions indicate that the community has a very positive attitude toward technology.

Optimizing the input for learning of L2-specific constructions: The roles of Zipfian and balanced input, explicit rules and working memory

AbstractUsage-based theory has proposed that learning of linguistic constructions is facilitated by input that contains few high-frequency exemplars, in what is known as a skewed (or Zipfian) input distribution. Early empirical work provided support to this idea, but subsequent L2 research has provided mixed findings. However, previous approaches have not explored the impact that cognitive traits (e.g., working memory) have on the effectiveness of skewed or balanced input. The experiment reported here tested learners’ ability to develop new L2 categories of adjectives that guide lexical selection in Spanish verbs of “becoming.” The results showed that, when explicit rules are provided, low-working memory learners benefitted from reduced variability in skewed input, while high-working memory individuals benefitted from balanced input, which better allows for rule-based hypothesis testing. The findings help clarify the mixed findings in previous studies and suggest a way forward for optimizing the L2 input based on individual traits.

Does the Operation of a Reservoir Alter Its Interactions with the Atmosphere? Investigating the Role of Advective Fluxes on Energy and Hydrological Balances of the Romaine-2 Subarctic Hydropower Reservoir

Abstract The hydrological processes of cascading hydroelectric reservoirs differ from those of lakes, due to the importance of the inflows and outflows that vary with energy demand. These heat and water advection terms are rarely considered in water body energy balance analyses even though reservoirs are common man-made structures, especially in North America, and thus may affect the regional climate. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the water and energy balance of the 85-km2 Romaine-2 northern reservoir (50.69°N, 63.24°W), mean depth of 44 m, highlighting the significant contribution of the advection heat fluxes. The water balance input was primarily controlled by upstream (turbine) inflows (77.6%), while lateral (natural) inflows and direct precipitation represented 21.2% and 1.2%, respectively. As for the reservoir’s heat budget, the net advection of heat accounted on average for 25.0% of the input, of which net radiation was the largest component (73.3%). After accounting for the absence of energy balance closure, latent heat and sensible heat fluxes represented 73.2% and 25.1% of total energy output from the reservoir, respectively. The thermal regime was influenced by the hydrological flow conditions, which were regulated by reservoir management. This played a major role in the evolution of the thermocline and the temperature of the epilimnion, and ultimately, in the dynamics of the turbulent heat fluxes. This study suggests that the heat advection term represents a large fraction of the heat budget of northern reservoirs and should be properly considered.

Autopilot System for Depth and Pitch Control in Underwater Vehicles: Navigating Near-Surface Waves and Disturbances

This paper introduces a framework for depth and pitch control of underwater vehicles in near-surface wave conditions. By effectively managing tail, sail plane angles and hover tank operations utilizing a Linear Quadratic Regulator controller and ℒ1 Adaptive Autopilot augmentation, the system ensures balanced control input distribution and significantly attenuates wave disturbances. This development in underwater vehicle control systems offers potential for improved functionality across a range of marine applications. The proposed framework is demonstrated to be robust in wave conditions, enabling more precise navigation and improved safety in operational scenario. The effectiveness of this control strategy is validated through extensive simulations using the Joubert BB2 model.

Evaluating a Scheduling Fractional-Order Controller in an AC/AC Matrix Converter Driving a PMSM Model

This paper discusses a fractional-order controller applied to an AC/AC matrix converter when it is driving a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM). The process of design and simulation of the controller is shown. A numerical simulator composed of detailed models of the main components AC/AC Matrix Converter, PMSM, power electronics and control system are employed to probe the performance of the controller. The simulation was carried out in MATLAB/Simulink. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the controller to reduce current and voltage harmonics of the AC/AC matrix converter. These simulations were performed using changes on velocity and also with balanced and unbalanced input voltages.

Promotion of the symbiotic interaction between phagotrophic protists and beneficial bacteria, mediated via a balancing of soil nutrients, reduces the incidence of watermelon Fusarium wilt

Elucidating the microbial mechanisms that trigger Fusarium wilt represents a key step in addressing the barriers to sustainable cropping. However, from the perspective of the complete microbiome, the integrated role of soil nutrients and the microbial community in fields with different rate of wilt disease remains unclear. In this study, we examined the potential interrelationships among rhizosphere soil nutrients, bacteria, fungi, and protists in soils collected from fields in which watermelon had been cultivated for 8 years, and which were characterized by high (HW: 81.25%) or low (LW: 6.25%) incidence of watermelon Fusarium wilt. Soil from HW fields was found to contain a higher density of F. oxysporum (1.30-fold higher than that in the LW soil), along with higher contents of available phosphorus (1.31-fold higher), and available potassium (2.39-fold higher). In addition, the inter-kingdom correlation between protists and bacteria in the HW soil was 2.08-fold higher than that in LW soil. Furthermore, structural equation modeling revealed that an excess of soil available potassium enhances predation by potentially detrimental phagotrophic protists on potentially beneficial bacteria. Collectively, our findings indicate that a balanced nutrient input and the interaction between protists and beneficial bacteria play important roles in controlling the incidence of watermelon Fusarium wilt. These findings have implications for controlling the incidence of watermelon Fusarium wilt based on modifying the nutrient balance of soil and increasing the flora of certain beneficial protists (Cercomonas and Colpoda) that interact symbiotically with species of Bacillus.

Ecological Comfort of Green Spaces for Urban Parking

The article presents an overview of numerical solutions of computational fluid dynamics in the field of urban planning. The study is devoted to new solutions to maintain a comfortable microclimate in urban spaces in hot climates. Such territories require comprehensive urban planning and scientifically based environmental assessment. Numerical modelling in the Ansys Fluent software package is considered using the example of the influence of turbulence models on airflow parameters near a building site with and without green spaces. The article analyses the temperature and aeration conditions of the adjacent car park in three options: open (without landscaping); fenced with bushes; fenced with bushes with a canopy made of lightweight construction, without internal partitions, on the territory of an existing residential development, consisting of a group of 16-storey buildings in the new modern multi-storey micro district Karasuv in Samarkand (Republic of Uzbekistan). The performed CFD analysis provided an opportunity to determine the most effective localization of green spaces due to the consideration of their different combinations. The use of the CFD method when solving a problem makes it possible to optimize the period of pre-design analysis. The resulting numerical model of a house parking lot can be used to assess the impact of wind conditions and temperature regulation using a system of green spaces that provide stable and balanced heat input to the environment.

Dye coupling of horizontal cells in the primate retina.

In the monkey retina, there are two distinct types of axon-bearing horizontal cells, known as H1 and H2 horizontal cells (HCs). In this study, cell bodies were prelabled using 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), and both H1 and H2 horizontal cells were filled with Neurobiotin™ to reveal their coupling, cellular details, and photoreceptor contacts. The confocal analysis of H1 and H2 HCs was used to assess the colocalization of terminal dendrites with glutamate receptors at cone pedicles. After filling H1 somas, a large coupled mosaic of H1 cells was labeled. The dendritic terminals of H1 cells contacted red/green cone pedicles, with the occasional sparse contact with blue cone pedicles observed. The H2 cells were also dye-coupled. They had larger dendritic fields and lower densities. The dendritic terminals of H2 cells preferentially contacted blue cone pedicles, but additional contacts with nearly all cones within the dendritic field were still observed. The red/green cones constitute 99% of the input to H1 HCs, whereas H2 HCs receive a more balanced input, which is composed of 58% red/green cones and 42% blue cones. These observations confirm those made in earlier studies on primate horizontal cells by Dacey and Goodchild in 1996. Both H1 and H2 HCs were axon-bearing. H1 axon terminals (H1 ATs) were independently coupled and contacted rod spherules exclusively. In contrast, the H2 axon terminals contacted cones, with some preference for blue cone pedicles, as reported by Chan and Grünert in 1998. The primate retina contains three independently coupled HC networks in the outer plexiform layer (OPL), identified as H1 and H2 somatic dendrites, and H1 ATs. At each cone pedicle, the colocalization of both H1 and H2 dendritic tips with GluA4 subunits close to the cone synaptic ribbons indicates that glutamate signaling from the cones to H1 and H2 horizontal cells is mediated by α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors.

Synergistic behavioral antagonists of a sex pheromone reduce reproduction of invasive sea lamprey

Sex pheromones impart maximal attraction when their components are present at optimal ratios that confer balanced olfactory inputs in potential mates. Altering ratios or adding pheromone analogs to optimal mixtures may disrupt balanced olfactory antagonism and result in reduced attraction, however, tests in natural populations are lacking. We tested this hypothesis in sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), a fish whose male sex pheromone attracts females when two critical components, 3-keto petromyzonol sulfate (3kPZS) and petromyzonol sulfate (PZS), are present at certain ratios. Here, we report a pheromone analog, petromyzonol tetrasulfate (3sPZS), reduced female attraction to 3kPZS but not to PZS. 3sPZS mixed with additional PZS synergistically disrupted female attraction to the male pheromone and reduced spawning by 97% in a high-density population. Our results provide evidence of balanced olfactory antagonism in a vertebrate and establish a tactic to disrupt spawning of sea lamprey, a destructive invader of the Laurentian Great Lakes.

Predictive Current Control for Three-Level Four-Leg Indirect Matrix Converter Under Unbalanced Input Voltage

In this paper, a robustness evaluation of model predictive current control with instantaneous reactive power minimization for a three-level four-leg indirect matrix converter is presented. Unbalanced voltages can be extremely dangerous, especially for motors and other inductive equipment. Unbalanced voltages can have a detrimental effect on equipment and the power system, which is exacerbated by the fact that a small phase voltage imbalance can result in a disproportionately large phase current imbalance. The robustness test is carried out by considering balance and unbalanced input voltages. The proposed control predicts the behavior of the load current and the instantaneous reactive power for every possible 96 switching states. Subsequently, it selects the optimum switching state which fulfils the objectives of the control without the need of modulators. The cost function has been adequately modified to consider the asymmetrical aspect of the input voltage. Experimental validation using a laboratory prototype was conducted by using FPGA under a wide range of input voltage unbalance. The experimental results show high fidelity load current reference tracking while maintaining relatively low instantaneous reactive power during the transient and steady-state condition. The percentage of reactive power after setting the optimal weighting factor, the average reactive power was found to reduce to approximately 10-20%.

Impact of fertilization and grazing on soil N and enzyme activities in a karst pasture ecosystem

The biggest obstacle to economic development in karst areas comes from the ecological crisis, so healthy soil and adequate food are important. Soil nitrogen (N) is an important factor in maintaining soil quality. Understanding the changes in soil N fractions and enzyme activities under different management practices is important to maintain sustainable pastureland in karst areas. In this study, we investigated how grazing and fertilization affect different soil nitrogen fractions and enzyme activities of karst pastureland. The four treatments were unused land (UL, undisturbed utilization), abandoned-grazing pastureland (APL, grazing for three years followed by abandonment for six years), grazing pastureland (GPL, controlled grazing without fertilizer) and fertilized-grazing pastureland (FGPL, controlled grazing + fertilizer), with the aim of determining the management practices that is most beneficial to soil N in the area. Our results indicated that FGPL is the most beneficial in enhancing soil N fractions. This is reflected in greater total nitrogen (TN), alkaline driven nitrogen (NOH), inorganic nitrogen (TON), anaerobic mineralized nitrogen (The average increase in each soil layer over UL was 1.43 times; TMN), microbial biomass nitrogen (The average increase in each soil layer over UL was 3.51 times; MBN), amino acid nitrogen (AAN), amino sugar nitrogen (ASN), acidolyzed unknown nitrogen (TUN) and unacidified nitrogen (AIN) in FGPL soils. Likewise, greater enzyme activities were also found in nitrogen conversion-related enzymes (soil urease (S-UE), soil N-acetyl-β-D-aminoglucosidase (S-NAG), nitrate reductase (S-NR), and soil acid protease (S-ACPT)). In addition, the combination of grazing and balanced nutrient inputs slowed soil acidification and maintained high levels of total phosphorus (TP) and total potassium (TK). In contrast, the soil N fractions responded significantly to APL (low TN and plant effective nitrogen), while insufficient conversion capacity (enzyme activity, MBN) was the main reason for the compromised soil N availability at GPL. Government policy makers and livestock producers should encourage controlled grazing with proper fertilizer supplementation, and avoid prolonged abandonment of grazing lands.

Targeting operational regimes of interest in recurrent neural networks.

Neural computations emerge from local recurrent neural circuits or computational units such as cortical columns that comprise hundreds to a few thousand neurons. Continuous progress in connectomics, electrophysiology, and calcium imaging require tractable spiking network models that can consistently incorporate new information about the network structure and reproduce the recorded neural activity features. However, for spiking networks, it is challenging to predict which connectivity configurations and neural properties can generate fundamental operational states and specific experimentally reported nonlinear cortical computations. Theoretical descriptions for the computational state of cortical spiking circuits are diverse, including the balanced state where excitatory and inhibitory inputs balance almost perfectly or the inhibition stabilized state (ISN) where the excitatory part of the circuit is unstable. It remains an open question whether these states can co-exist with experimentally reported nonlinear computations and whether they can be recovered in biologically realistic implementations of spiking networks. Here, we show how to identify spiking network connectivity patterns underlying diverse nonlinear computations such as XOR, bistability, inhibitory stabilization, supersaturation, and persistent activity. We establish a mapping between the stabilized supralinear network (SSN) and spiking activity which allows us to pinpoint the location in parameter space where these activity regimes occur. Notably, we find that biologically-sized spiking networks can have irregular asynchronous activity that does not require strong excitation-inhibition balance or large feedforward input and we show that the dynamic firing rate trajectories in spiking networks can be precisely targeted without error-driven training algorithms.

Exploring the Throughput Legitimacy of European Union Policy Evaluation: Challenges to Transparency and Inclusiveness in the European Commission’s Consultation Procedures and the Implications for Risk Regulation

AbstractIn its evaluation cycle, the European Commission emphasises the importance of good data and the systematic involvement of a plurality of policy stakeholders, including citizens. Findings from European Union policy evaluation should inform further law-making, encourage learning and provide accountability. Transparent and inclusive formal procedures and tools are seen as essential for securing citizen participation in risk regulation; however, the Commission faces numerous challenges in securing engagement, particularly concerning the complexity of policy issues and the formal procedures for institutionalised consultations. Considering the Commission’s work from a proceduralist perspective, the article engages with Vivien Schmidt’s notion of “throughput legitimacy” to explore recent procedural innovations emerging since the Better Regulation agenda that have sought to enhance accountability, transparency, inclusiveness and openness, ensuring fairer and more balanced input on EU policy performance. The article argues in favour of greater throughput legitimacy in ex post policy evaluation but recognises challenges to the promotion of evaluation tools and their use by citizens.

Balanced-to-Single-Ended Filtering 180° Hybrids With Arbitrary Power-Division Ratio

In this article, a balanced-to-single-ended (BTSE) 180 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{\circ}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> hybrid with arbitrary power-division ratio and bandpass filtering response is presented based on the 2-D square patch resonators. With resorting to the TM <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{01}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> and TM <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{10}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> orthogonal degenerate modes in a square patch cavity, the desired in-phase and out-of-phase characteristics between output ports can be simultaneously accomplished. The electric field distributions on the patch under operation of TM <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{01}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> and TM <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{10}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> modes are inspected to guide the design process. Theoretical analysis results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid flexibly allows for effective control of arbitrary power-division ratio by arranging two output ports at proper positions. Meanwhile, the filtering response can be realized using two stacked patch resonators with proper coupling strengths according to the filter specification. Moreover, the isolation performances between balanced input ports and single-ended output ports are evaluated for all the power-division ratios. For validation, two 2nd-order filtering BTSE hybrids with different power ratios of 1:1 and 10:1 are designed. Measured results of both two fabricated circuits exhibit good performances in terms of filtering response, power splitting distribution, common-mode suppression, in-phase and antiphase difference, as well as isolation and port matching.

Ear morphology and anthropometry: gender and age differences in Indian college students

The human ear is an important organ that serves as a sensory input for sound and balance. Ear morphology can vary greatly between individuals and can be influenced by various factors such as age, sex, genetics, and environmental factors. This study aimed to investigate ear dimensions and anthropometry of a sample of Indian college students.A total of 100 Indian college students were included in this cross-sectional study. Ear measurements including total ear height (TEH), ear width (EW), lobule height (LH), and lobule width (LW) were obtained using digital calipers. Lobule index (LI) and ear index (EI) were calculated using the following formula: LI = LH/TEH x 100 and EI = EW/TEH x 100. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent sample t-tests.The mean values for TEH, EW, LH, and LW increased with increasing age for both the right and left ears. Male participants had significantly greater TEH and EW compared to females for both the right and left ears. There were significant differences in lobule height (right ear) and lobule index (right and left ear) between males and females, with males having slightly larger measurements than females.Our study provides valuable information on ear dimensions and anthropometry in a sample of Indian college students. The findings of our study are consistent with previous studies conducted worldwide, as well as in India. Our study highlights the importance of considering gender and age when investigating ear dimensions and anthropometry.

Multiscale Fusion Algorithm for Underwater Image Enhancement Based on Color Preservation

Underwater images regularly exhibit color deviation and low contrast attributed to attenuation and scattering associated with wavelength and distance. For solving these two degradation problems, we propose an efficient underwater image enhancement model, which takes a multiscale fusion strategy as a pivot to concurrently achieve color balance and contrast enhancement. Specifically, we target two core degradation problems through two preprocessing steps. On the one hand, the white balance strategy enhances the appearance of the image by suppressing unnecessary colors to solve the color deviation problem. On the other hand, we employ a color-preserving adaptive histogram equalization (CP-AHE) to obtain an image with higher contrast by jointly processing the three color channels. In the fusion phase, a fusion strategy based on the detail-preserving decomposition of the edge-protected structural blocks is used to converge the white balance and CP-AHE inputs. Extensive experiments on common underwater image datasets have shown the advantages of the proposed method over other state-of-the-art underwater image methods in terms of visual and quantitative evaluation.