Economic and Social Deficiency: Their Influence on Students’ Academic Performance

This study ascertained to find out relationship between economic and social deficiency and their influence on education students’ academic performance at West Visayas State University-Janiuay Campus, School Year 2014-2015.  The descriptive-correlational method was used with academic performance as dependent variable and economic and social deficiency as independent variables.  The participants were the 266 students selected through stratified random sampling.  Data were gathered through questionnaire-checklist and Grade Point Average.  The statistical tools used were frequency, rank, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson's r computed through SPSS. The results show that the top three predominant economic deficiencies are inability to join in school activities; inability to pay for photocopy of hand outs and other reference materials; inability to spend any amount for snacks/lunch.  Likewise, the top three most social deficiencies are understanding community norms; having social perception, making choices and self- monitoring; perceiving how others are feeling and sharing empathy.  Further, education students have a “moderate extent” social deficiency and the overall performance was “very good”.  Moreover, a negative correlation but no significant relationship existed between economic and social deficiency and between social deficiency and academic performance.  The economic deficiency and academic performance revealed a positive and no significant relationship.

Planck pre-launch status: The optical system

Planck is a scientific satellite that represents the next milestone in space-based research related to the cosmic microwave background, and in many other astrophysical fields. Planck was launched on 14 May of 2009 and is now operational. The uncertainty in the optical response of its detectors is a key factor allowing Planck to achieve its scientific objectives. More than a decade of analysis and measurements have gone into achieving the required performances. In this paper, we describe the main aspects of the Planck optics that are relevant to science, and the estimated in-flight performance, based on the knowledge available at the time of launch. We also briefly describe the impact of the major systematic effects of optical origin, and the concept of in-flight optical calibration. Detailed discussions of related areas are provided in accompanying papers

Self-Calibrating Network Analysis for Panoramic Cameras by Heuristic Simulation

Linear array CCD-based panoramic cameras have a high potential for measurement applications due to their design in acquiring 360 degree field of views and high information content with up to a Giga-pixel image data in one scan. The best possible accuracy of such a system can be obtained by a suitable sensor model and by establishing an optimal network following the concept of network design. The influence of different network configurations on the object point coordinates precision was shown in our previous studies with networks of panoramic cameras and panoramic and matrix array CCD cameras. In this paper, the influence of different network configurations onto the determination of Additional Parameters (APs) for self-calibration is demonstrated. The accuracy and precision values of object points and the correlations of APs with respect to the object point coordinates and the exterior orientation parameters are analyzed. By computer simulation and some sensor assumptions, networks of leveled and tilted panoramic camera stations, at the same and at different heights, are analyzed. The datum choice in all network cases is the “free network”, based on the concept of inner constraints. We show that by increasing the tilt of camera stations the correlations of parameters are decreasing, especially the correlations of APs with object space coordinates. Based on these results we suggest tilted panoramic camera stations for the purpose of self-calibration.ISSN:1682-1750ISSN:2194-9034ISSN:1682-177

Greenhouse Mobile Robot Navigation Using Wheel Revolution Encoding and Learning Algorithm

Repetitive and dangerous tasks such as harvesting and spraying have made robots usable in the greenhouses. The mechanical structure and navigation algorithm are two important parameters in the design and fabrication of mobile greenhouse robots. In this study, a four- wheel differential steering mobile robot was designed and constructed to act as a greenhouse robot. Then, the navigation of the robot at different levels and actual greenhouses was evaluated. The robot navigation algorithm was based on the path learning, so that the route was stored in the robot memory using a remote control based on the pulses transmitted from the wheels encoders; then, the robot automatically traversed the path. Robot navigation accuracy was tested at different surfaces (ceramics, concrete, dense soil and loose soil) in a straight path 20 meters long and a square path, 4×4 m. Then, robot navigation accuracy was investigated in a greenhouse. Robot movement deviation value was calculated using root mean square error (RMSE) and standard deviation (SD). The results showed that the RMSE of deviation of autonomous method from manual control method in the straight path to the length of 20 meters in ceramic, concrete, dense  soil and loose soil were 4.3, 2.8, 4.6 and 8 cm, and in the 4×4 m square route were 6.6, 5.5, 13.1 and 47.1 cm, respectively

Anthracnose Detection on Walnut Tree Leaves using Outdoor Image Processing Methods

IntroductionControl of walnut diseases and pests requires the mapping of the extent of contamination within possible shortest time. Therefore, it is necessary to develop systems to detect and determine the prevalence and location of contamination for researchers and gardeners. Image processing has been proposed as an approach to determine the extent and type of damage to different products in farms and gardens. The aim of this study was to design an algorithm based on the processing of walnut leaf images under natural light conditions in order to provide a rapid and non-destructive detection of diseases for the protection of trees using imaging methods. In this research, the possibility of detecting Anthracnose disease was investigated by processing walnut leaf images. The disease was detected using in situ images taken from the leaves to provide the basis for designing application software on smart mechatronic systems. Materials and MethodsImages of leaves on walnut trees were taken under outdoor light conditions. Color and morphological properties extracted from the images were used to detect the pest on the leaves. Gnomonia leptostyla disease diagnostic algorithm was based on process of color and morphological characteristics, leaves background and disease-stained spots. The range of changes in R, G, and B indices was obtained in histograms and then two-dimensional spaces were analyzed statistically on GR, GB, and BR planes. All points from these regions were used as statistical samples, for which bivariate regressions of GR, GB, and BR were obtained as y = b0 + b1x. Segments containing anthracnose spots from the leaves were segregated by extracting the coordinates of the points in each side on the RGB color space cube. Finally, anthracnose content was detected based on the number of spots detected by the algorithms. The percentage of contamination was used to determine the amount of contamination in each imaged area.Results and DiscussionExamination of the colored spaces indicated that the domain of the anthracnose color components on the GR side has nothing in common with the color components of the leaves. The analysis of color space data revealed that the leaves and anthracnose were more distinguishable on the GB and RB sides, respectively. According to the histogram of the HSV color space, anthracnose spots were isolated from the leaves by determining the H range. In the evaluation of the proposed method for diagnosis of anthracnose, the infection severity calculated by the algorithm with the true infection intensity. T-test results for comparing the mean of the two infection intensity samples showed no significant differences between the two groups at 1% probability level. ConclusionsThe evaluation of the proposed method showed a 98% segregation accuracy for G. leptostyla detection method. Based on the results, the proposed method for detecting anthracnose spots is suitable for determining the contamination severity in the imaged areas

VP Leni (Kakampinks) at BBM Supporters: Ang nosyon ng positibo at negatibong panatiko

Mas tumaas ang engagement ng mga Pilipino sa diskursong politikal sa social media simula nang nag-umpisang magpahayag ng kandidatura ang ilang sa mga kilalang politiko noong Oktubre 2021. Naging tanda ito ng interes ng nakararami sa paksang pampolitika, na siyang maaaring ituring na marka sa kaalaman ng mga Pilipino kaugnay dito. Sa pag-aaral na ito, layuning mailarawan ang kaalaman sa paksa ng mga nakikipag-ugnayan sa diskursong pampolitika sa kasalukuyan. Gamit ang Facebook bilang tahanan ng online discourse, pumili ng dalawang public posts mula sa page ng dalawang pinakakilalang kandidato sa pagkapangulo, VP Leni Robredo at dating Senador Bongbong Marcos. Bilang limitasyon, sinuri lamang ang unang 100 “most relevant” na mga komento sa posts matapos nilang ihayag ang kandidatura sa publiko. Sinuri ang mga damdaming maoobserbahan sa bawat komento gamit ang emotional equations ni Conley (2012) upang itakda ang damdaming ipinadama ng nagkomento at nadama ng bumasa. Napansin sa mga komento at sa sidhi ng mga emosyong nadama ang pangingibabaw ng mga sumusunod na katangian ng isang panatiko (Aribowo et al., 2020): a) uncritical enthusiasm, b) extreme belief, c) disability of rationality; at, d) irrational commitment. Sa kabuuan, naihahanay sa dalawang pangkat ang mga komento gamit pa rin ang deskripsyon nila Aribowo et al.: pagiging negatibo at positibong panatiko. At batay sa masusing panghuhusga at pagbibigay ng mga matitibay na pansuportang detalye at panitikan, mas naiuugnay ang mga supporters ni VP Leni bilang mga positibong panatiko; samantala, sa kabaligtaran naman ang halos karamihan sa supporters ni Bongbong Marcos

Molecular Identification of Leishmania Species Using Samples Obtained from Negative Stained Smears

Background: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic skin disease. Diagnosis primarily is based on clinical signs and microscopic observation of parasite on direct stained smears or tissue sections. Sensitivity of direct smear is not as high as molecular methods. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize Leishmania species among the negative direct smears obtained from skin ulcers sus­pected to CL by PCR method.Methods: Among 81 patients with suspicious skin lesions to CL referred to the Parasitology lab, nega­tive Giemsa stained smears were collected. DNA extraction performed by scraping stained smears, then PCR was performed.Results: Among the DNA extracted from smears, L. tropica was isolated from 9 (11.1%) of the smears and L.major was not isolated from any samples.Conclusion: Direct microscopy on stained smears for diagnosis of leishmaniasis is not enough accu­rate. PCR is recommended for clinically suspected lesions with negative result of direct smear