Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fast Compressive Sensing-Based SAR Imaging Integrated With Motion Compensation

Recently, compressive sensing (CS) has been applied in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, which is increasingly in the focus of study and shows great potential. In CS-based SAR imaging, motion errors of the moving platform introduce inaccuracies in the observation model, which cause various degradations in the final images. To accomplish accurate motion compensation during CS-based SAR imaging, we propose a fast CS-based SAR imaging integrated with motion compensation method. First, CS-based imaging based on the utilization of inverse observation deduced from the inversion of conventional imaging procedures is applied, which is much more computational efficient than the exact observation model. Then, an improved inverse observation model integrated with motion compensation is derived. In the improved model, spatially variant azimuth phase errors are taken into consideration. Joint SAR imaging and motion compensation are formulated as a sparse recovery problem and solved in an iterative way, wherein each iteration both image formation and motion compensation are carried out. The processing of SAR data shows that the proposed method can obtain better focused images compared with the existing SAR imaging and motion compensation methods.
Anytime, Anywhere! Inertial Sensors Monitor Sports Performance

Humans move continuously as part of normal living, even when asleep. The health of your heart, lungs, and digestive system-and even your mental health-are greatly improved through exercise. In modern times, technical aids have significantly reduced opportunities for physical activity; e.g., jobs are more sedentary, household chores require less physical effort, and commuting usually involves sitting in a vehicle. The result is increased obesity and ill health in the population, with the extreme case of type 2 diabetes becoming far too common in youth and younger adults. Individuals, governments, and corporations (particularly in the fitness industries) attempt to counter this through various exercise schemes, and, given the human motivation to win, sports are thought to play a leading role.
Learning Neighbourhoods for Fingerprint Indexing

Fingerprint Indexing allows filtering databases for samples most similar to a query fingerprint. Fixed-length feature vectors invariant to the count of minutiae allow fast comparison. This is the first approach, which uses Deep Convolutional Neural Networks to generate fixed-length index vectors from minutia neighbourhoods. It is also invariant to any sorting of minutiae with respect to their vicinity. No fingerprint image data is required. Usage of only standardized ISO/IEC minutia templates allows even to deploy to legacy systems. Our approach is therefore called Deep ISO Minutiae Indexing (DIMI). Index vectors can be as short as 16 float values per sample. DIMI was evaluated at the independent benchmark framework FVCongoing. In the incremental search scenario, DIMI achieves an average penetration ratio of 0.747% for test FIDX-50K and 0.723% for test FIDX-10K respectively. These are the best results reported so far.
Improving Edge Detection in RGB Images by Adding NIR Channel

The edge detection is yet a critical problem in many computer vision and image processing tasks. The manuscript presents an Holistically-Nested Edge Detection based approach to study the inclusion of Near-Infrared in the Visible spectrum images. To do so, a Single Sensor based dataset has been acquired in the range of 400nm to 1100nm wavelength spectral band. Prominent results have been obtained even when the ground truth (annotated edge-map) is based in the visible wavelength spectrum.
Replay Attacks Detection Using Phase and Magnitude Features with Various Frequency Resolutions

Replay attacks detection is a challenging task under unseen recording environments and playback devices. To overcome this problem, we propose a combination of phase-based and magnitude-based feature with various frequency resolutions. Conventional feature used in replay attacks detection does not pay much attention to phase which is expected to be effective for replay attacks detection because the genuine and spoof speech has significant differences in phase. In this paper, we investigate the combination of phase-based and magnitude-based features with different frequency resolutions to better solve the classification issue. The replay attacks detection results on ASVspoof 2017 challenge indicated that our proposed approach achieved 51.3% relative error reduction rate than the conventional magnitude-based feature.
Distributed clusters classification algorithm for indoor wireless sensor networks using pre-defined knowledge-based database

With the widespread usage of wireless sensor networks for many monitoring and control applications, a significant number of researchers proposed different types of structures for the WSNs to control the large volume of data that flows through the networks and save sensor node energy to increase the network lifetime. One which can achieve all these requirements is a hierarchical structure which is also called clustering. All previous clustering algorithms that have been proposed use the IEEE 802.15. 4 standard which comes with a technique to access the shared communication medium by using the Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA). On the other hand, many researchers demonstrated that the CSMA/CA does not work well with an increasing number of nodes in the network. Therefore, in this paper a novel distributed method has been presented to classify the individual nodes in clusters without depending completely on CSMA/CA technique. The proposed method classifies the network nodes based on a knowledge database installed in advance inside each node in the network. Hardware nodes have been used to evaluate the performance of the new method. The results show that the proposed clustering algorithm achieved better performance compared with the LEACH algorithm in terms of clustering scalability, but it takes longer time than the LEACH to classify the cluster members.
Impact of Gait Stabilization: A Study on How to Exploit it for User Recognition

Biometrics are nowadays taking more and more space both in research institutions and industries. This trend is even increased during the last years due to the widespread of wearable devices, especially consumer smartphones containing several sensors that can be exploited for the collection of user data and their recognition. This study deals with gait recognition with data collected by wearable accelerometers. The main focus is to test the gait stabilization effect, i.e., the tendency of humans to produce more stable gait dynamics after a certain (very short) period of walking. We use a subset of one of the largest freely available dataset, the ZJU-gaitacc, in order to present comparable results. The achieved performances confirm the benefits in the use of the last steps of a reasonably long walk (about 20 meters) in order to recognize a user. Moreover, we observe that it is possible to identify the correct identity of a user within the first 5 ranks of the CMC curve with a rate of 99%. Results for Verification with single and multiple template(s) is also presented as well as the ones achieved in Open Set Identification, the most difficult yet realistic biometric modality.
How consultant participation lead to ERP implementation satisfaction: a study upon the Iranian industries

Due to high levels of investment required in the implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and considerable differences in ERP adoption results, substantial research attention has been devoted to exploring critical success factors (CSFs) concerning ERP implementation. Little attention, however, has been paid to the mechanisms of how these factors influence successful ERP implementation. This study focused on three CSFs, namely: consultant participation, user training, and IT staff skills. The authors developed a research model including the relationships between the aforementioned CSF variables and ERP implementation success variable, namely ERP implementation satisfaction. The purpose of this research was to explore the direct effect of consultant participation on ERP implementation success (satisfaction) and examines the indirect effect of that via user training, and IT staff skills. Our research model was assessed using a sample of 249 ERP users in Iranian organizations. Partial least squares (PLS) technique was used for data analysis. The PLS results confirmed our six hypotheses. After integrating the results, we found that consultant participation positively influenced ERP implementation satisfaction either directly or indirectly through user training and IT staff skills.
trans-Cinnamic acid-induced leaf expansion involves an auxin-independent component

ABSTRACT The phenylpropanoid pathway, the source of a large array of compounds with diverse functions, starts with the synthesis of trans-cinnamic acid (t-CA) that is converted by cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H) into p-coumaric acid. We have recently shown that in Arabidopsis, exogenous t-CA promotes leaf growth by increasing cell expansion and that this response requires auxin signaling. We have also shown that cell expansion is increased in C4H loss-of-function mutants. Here we provide further evidence that leaf growth is enhanced by either t-CA or a t-CA derivative that accumulates upstream of C4H. We also show that this growth response pathway has two components: one that requires auxin signaling and another which employs a currently unknown mechanism.
General practitioners’ justifications for therapeutic inertia in cardiovascular prevention: an empirically grounded typology

Objective To construct a typology of general practitioners’ (GPs) responses regarding their justification of therapeutic inertia in cardiovascular primary prevention for high-risk patients with hypertension. Design Empirically grounded construction of typology. Types were defined by attributes derived from the qualitative analysis of GPs’ reported reasons for inaction. Participants 256 GPs randomised in the intervention group of a cluster randomised controlled trial. Setting GPs members of 23 French Regional Colleges of Teachers in General Practice, included in the EffectS of a multifaceted intervention on CArdiovascular risk factors in high-risk hyPErtensive patients (ESCAPE) trial. Data collection and analysis The database consisted of 2638 written responses given by the GPs to an open-ended question asking for the reasons why drug treatment was not changed as suggested by the national guidelines. All answers were coded using constant comparison analysis. A matrix analysis of codes per GP allowed the construction of a response typology, where types were defined by codes as attributes. Initial coding and definition of types were performed independently by two teams. Results Initial coding resulted in a list of 69 codes in the final codebook, representing 4764 coded references in the question responses. A typology including seven types was constructed. 100 GPs were allocated to one and only one of these types, while 25 GPs did not provide enough data to allow classification. Types (numbers of GPs allocated) were: ‘optimists’ (28), ‘negotiators’ (20), ‘checkers’ (15), ‘contextualisers’ (13), ‘cautious’ (11), ‘rounders’ (8) and ‘scientists’ (5). For the 36 GPs that provided 50 or more coded references, analysis of the code evolution over time and across patients showed a consistent belonging to the initial type for any given GP. Conclusion This typology could provide GPs with some insight into their general ways of considering changes in the treatment/management of cardiovascular risk factors and guide design of specific physician-centred interventions to reduce inappropriate inaction. Trial registration number NCT00348855.
Vision-based minimum-time trajectory generation for a quadrotor UAV

In this paper, we address the problem of using a camera with limited field of view for controlling the motion of a quadrotor in aggressive flight regimes. We present a minimum time trajectory planning method that guarantees visibility of the image features while allowing the robot to undertake aggressive motions for which the usual near-hovering assumption is violated. We exploit differential flatness and B-Splines to parametrize the system trajectories in terms of a finite number of control points, which can then be optimized by Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP). The control strategy is similar to a Receding Horizon Control (RHC) approach for modifying online the reference trajectory in order to account for noise, disturbances and any non-modeled effect. The algorithm is validated in a physically realistic simulation environment.
Reye syndrome—insights on causation and prognosis

Reye syndrome (RS) is an abrupt insult to mitochondria manifesting as acute encephalopathy, selective hepatic dysfunction, and fatty infiltration of the viscera—as originally described in 1963 (see Wood1). Causation, however, remains unclear, especially the role of aspirin in possible pathogenesis.1 Although prompt recognition and intensive therapy is essential to full recovery, a paucity of cases in recent years has meant that few younger paediatricians have any personal experience. This and a spate of recent literature—clinical and scientific—has prompted this review. RS is a biphasic illness. A viral prodrome—with infection of the upper respiratory tract or bowel, or varicella—is followed several days later by an abrupt onset of encephalopathy heralded as profuse, effortless vomiting. The rate and degree of neurological decline vary. Raised intracranial pressure from brain swelling is usually thought to cause death or neurological injury. The British Paediatric Surveillance Unit defines RS as an unexplained, non-inflammatory encephalopathy in those less than 16 year of age, associated with a serum aspartate or alanine aminotransferases, or plasma ammonia more than three times the normal limit, or hepatic fatty infiltration that is microvesicular in appearance and panlobular in distribution.2 Diagnostic criteria are non-specific. One group maintains that antiemetics taken after onset of the vomiting have a causal role in RS, another disputes its actual existence3 4; evidence in support of these views is unconvincing and they have gained little support. However, a proportion of those thought initially to have RS (12%) are shown later to have an inherited metabolic disorder (IMD), such as single enzyme defects of β oxidation, or the urea cycle.2 “Classical” RS must of necessity be a diagnosis of exclusion. The evidence on prodromal aspirin and RS has been reviewed.5 Several case–control studies assert that the association is strong, consistent, and unbiased; …
Cyp26b1 Expression in Murine Sertoli Cells Is Required to Maintain Male Germ Cells in an Undifferentiated State during Embryogenesis

In mammals, germ cells within the developing gonad follow a sexually dimorphic pathway. Germ cells in the murine ovary enter meiotic prophase during embryogenesis, whereas germ cells in the embryonic testis arrest in G0 of mitotic cell cycle and do not enter meiosis until after birth. In mice, retinoic acid (RA) signaling has been implicated in controlling entry into meiosis in germ cells, as meiosis in male embryonic germ cells is blocked by the activity of a RA-catabolizing enzyme, CYP26B1. However, the mechanisms regulating mitotic arrest in male germ cells are not well understood. Cyp26b1 expression in the testes begins in somatic cells at embryonic day (E) 11.5, prior to mitotic arrest, and persists throughout fetal development. Here, we show that Sertoli cell-specific loss of CYP26B1 activity between E15.5 and E16.5, several days after germ cell sex determination, causes male germ cells to exit from G0, re-enter the mitotic cell cycle and initiate meiotic prophase. These results suggest that male germ cells retain the developmental potential to differentiate in meiosis until at least at E15.5. CYP26B1 in Sertoli cells acts as a masculinizing factor to arrest male germ cells in the G0 phase of the cell cycle and prevents them from entering meiosis, and thus is essential for the maintenance of the undifferentiated state of male germ cells during embryonic development.
Strategies Against High Blood Pressure in the Early Morning

Acute myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular disease reportedly show peak onset in the early morning, when blood pressure increases. The increase of blood pressure, or morning surge, may result from increased sympathetic activity reactive to arousal. The circadian pattern of vascular events is considered to be related to the morning surge in blood pressure, sympathetic activity, and hypercoagulability. Although there is no direct evidence indicating a causal relationship between the morning surge in blood pressure and vascular complications, it may be postulated that morning blood pressure surge is a factor which affects hypertensive complications. There may be two possible approaches to morning blood pressure surge; the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic approach. On the basis of pharmacodynamics, drugs with adrenergic α–blocking actions are usually selected. From a pharmacokinetic view, it is essential to maintain blood concentration of a drug at the critical early morning period. On this point, use of long acting agents, changes in drug regimen and the development of a chronobiological system has been studied, with many studies reporting successful results in lowering morning blood pressure. Further study whether such kinds of treatments improve long term outcomes in hypertensive patients are desired.
Infectivity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Genotypes and Outcome of Contact Investigation in Classroom in Guangxi, China

Objective To evaluate the infectivity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) genotypes of index cases in the classroom of adolescent schools in Guangxi, China. Methods Adolescent school tuberculosis (TB) contact investigations were conducted for all reported index TB cases from November 2016 to December 2017 in Guangxi, China. Genotypes of index cases and contact cases were identified by 15-loci mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units–variable number tandem repeat and spoligotyping. Outcome variable was 5 levels' order of tuberculin skin test (TST) results to new active TB [0-5 mm, 6-9 mm, 10-14 mm, ≥ 15 mm (without TB), and ≥15 mm (with TB)]. Multivariate ordered logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the independent effect of genotypes of index case on contact screening outcome. Results Beijing genotype occurred more commonly in female index patients. One genotypic cluster of two index cases and one cluster of two contact cases were detected. The association between infectivity of Beijing genotype of index cases and outcome of contact investigation was statistically significant in univariate analysis but no so after adjustment for characteristics of contacts and sex of index cases (P value=0.057). Female index cases increased the chance for TB infection/being active TB among contacts (ordinal odds ratio = 1.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.21, 1.60). Contacts who studied in the middle school, who with non-Han ethnicity and who without BCG scar had increased risk for TB infection/being active TB. Conclusion There was not enough evidence from our data to support that Beijing strains were more infective than non-Beijing strains in TB transmission in school setting.
Staphylococcus aureus- the predominant pathogen in the neonatal ICU of a tertiary care hospital in amritsar, India.

BACKGROUND An early treatment and the appropriate and the rational use of antibiotics would minimize the risk of severe morbidity and mortality in neonatal sepsis, and reduce the emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms in intensive care units. For the success of an early empiric treatment, a periodic review of the cases to assess any changing trends in the infecting organisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility is important. AIM To study the most commonly encountered bacterial pathogens which caused neonatal sepsis and their sensitivity patterns, so that guidelines could be prepared for a rational antibiotic therapy. SETTING AND DESIGN This was a retrospective study which was conducted in the Department of Microbiology and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at SGRDIMSAR, Amritsar, during June 2011 to June 2012. METHODS AND MATERIALS Blood specimens for culture were drawn from 311 newborns who were admitted in an NICU with sepsis. The specimens were inoculated into brain heart infusion broth. Subcultures were performed on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10. The isolates were identified by doing standard biochemical tests. The antibiotic resistance patterns of the isolates were studied by the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique. RESULTS A total of 131 organisms were isolated from the 311 blood cultures. These included Staphylococcus aureus (n=68), Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) (n=30), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=10), Acinetobacter baumannii (n=9), Escherichia coli (n=05), Enterobacter cloacae (n=04), Citrobacter diversus (n=02), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=02) and Candida (n=01). Staphylococcus aureus was the main pathogen in both early and late-onset sepsis. On antibiotic sensitivity testing, 57.35% of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates were found to be methicillin resistant. More than 90% gram negative rods were resistant to amikacin. The resistance to the third generation cephalosporins varied between 50-55%. The resistance to ciprofloxacin was quite high; however, most of the isolates were susceptible to levofloxacin. A majority of the isolates were susceptible to piperacillin- tazobactum and imipenem. CONCLUSION The present study emphasized the importance of periodic surveys on the microbial flora which was encountered in particular neonatal settings to recognize the trend.
Multiplexed and Inducible Gene Modulation in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells by CRISPR Interference and Activation

CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene interference (CRISPRi) and activation (CRISPRa) approaches hold promise for functional genomic studies and genome-wide screens in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). However, in contrast to CRISPR-Cas9 nuclease approaches, the efficiency of CRISPRi/a depends on continued expression of the dead Cas9 (dCas9) effector and guide RNA (gRNA), which can vary substantially depending on transgene design and delivery. Here, we design new fluorescently labeled piggyBac (PB) vectors to deliver robust and stable expression of multiplexed gRNAs. In addition, we generate hPSC lines harboring AAVS1-integrated, inducible and fluorescent dCas9-KRAB and dCas9-VPR transgenes to allow for accurate quantification and tracking of cells that express both the dCas9 effectors and gRNAs. We then employ these systems to target the TCF4 gene and conduct a rigorous assessment of expression levels of the dCas9 effectors, gRNAs and targeted gene. Collectively, these data provide proof-of-principle application of a stable, multiplexed PB gRNA delivery system that can be widely exploited to further enable genome engineering studies in hPSCs. Paired with diverse CRISPR tools including our dual fluorescence CRISPRi/a cell lines, this system would facilitate functional dissection of individual genes and pathways as well as larger-scale screens for studies of development and disease.