Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and implementation of a low cost dsp based rapid control prototyping system

Rapid control prototyping (RCP) is one of the most important technologies for the designers and researchers to shorten the design cycle of control algorithms, to improve the reliability of controllers and to simplify the modification of control algorithms during experiments. In this paper, a low cost rapid control prototyping system based on DSP is designed and developed. The RCP system has abundant hardware interface resources and provides an integrated software development environment based on MATLAB/Simulink. Through Real-time Workshop function of MATLAB, users can directly generate executable codes from Simulink models and download them into the DSP board for real-time control, which reduces developers' boring programming burden. Thus, the efficiency of developing real-time control systems is enhanced. A real-time control experiment of intelligent PD controller with neural network and feedforward compensation is done to demonstrate the validity of the system.
Comparative study of an efficient cascaded Inverter with different loads

Inverter, a device used for conversion of dc power to ac power has evolved from simple two level converter circuit to multilevel converter systems using efficient configurations. It is of growing interest because of its applications in photovoltaic systems, high voltage direct current transmission system, flexible alternating current transmission devices, industrial drives, isolated power supplies, renewable energy integration etc. Each day much work is being attempted to make better configurations to reduce size, space and cost of the system. This paper discusses one such configuration which is more advantageous than existing configurations and can be easily implemented. It also presents the results of a comparative analysis with an existing configuration of wide acceptance. Control used is sinusoidal pulse width modulation for both topologies compared. MATLAB-Simulink is used to do the simulative analysis.
A Wideband Superconducting Filter Using Strong Coupling Resonators for Radio Astronomy Observatory

A 12-pole wideband superconducting microstrip bandpass filter, which has a fractional bandwidth of 38% and a center frequency of 1455 MHz, is presented for the Miyun 50-m radio astronomy telescope, Beijing, China. A novel resonator, which can not only generate very large coupling, but also push its first spurious resonant peak away from the passband, is introduced. A new style interleaved coupling structure is proposed and successfully used in this study to realize the remarkably required strong coupling. To achieve high edge slope on the high side of the passband, as required, a single transmission zero was introduced. The filter was fabricated on a 36 mm times 30 mm times 0.5 mm double-sided YBa2Cu3O7 film deposited on an MgO substrate. The measured results showed that the filter had 0.05-dB minimum insertion loss, 0.08-dB passband ripple, and 23-dB return loss at a temperature of 40 K. The first spurious peak did not appear until 2632 MHz. The overall measured performance showed good agreement with the simulation.
Residents’ identity and tourism development: the Jamaican perspective

Abstract This study explores residents’ identity as a possible predictor of their perceptions of the impacts of tourism as well as their support for its development in Jamaica. The study uses three measures of residents’ identity, namely: gender identity in terms of masculine and feminine traits, cultural identity in terms of norms, values and practices and occupational identity as it pertains to occupations that are related and unrelated to tourism. The study also investigates the possible relationship between tourism impacts and residents’ support for tourism development. Identity theory is used as the theoretical framework for the research as it provides plausible explanations pertaining to the influence of an individual’s identity on their attitude and behaviour. Multiple regression analyses examine the relationships among the variables. Results indicate that perceptions of the positive and negative impacts as well as feminine and occupational identities predict residents’ support. Cultural identity predicts the positive impacts of tourism development and occupational identity predicts both the positive and negative impacts. The main theoretical contribution of the study emerges from the examination of three dimensions of resident identity as possible explanatory variables for tourism development in an island destination that is highly dependent on the tourism economy.
Shape-invariant speech transformation with the phase vocoder

This paper proposes a new phase vocoder based method for shape invariant real-time modification of speech signals. The performance of the method with respect voiced and unvoiced signal components as well as the control of the voiced/unvoiced balance of the transformed speech signals will be discussed. The algorithm has been compared in perceptual tests with implementations of PSOLA, and HNM algorithms demonstrating a very satisfying performance. Due to the fact that the quality of transformed signals is remaining acceptable over a wide range of transformation parameters the algorithm is especially suited for real-time gender and age transformations.
Angiotensin II Evokes Angiogenic Signals within Skeletal Muscle through Co-ordinated Effects on Skeletal Myocytes and Endothelial Cells

Skeletal muscle overload induces the expression of angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, leading to new capillary growth. We found that the overload-induced increase in angiogenesis, as well as increases in VEGF, MMP-2 and MT1-MMP transcripts were abrogated in muscle VEGF KO mice, highlighting the critical role of myocyte-derived VEGF in controlling this process. The upstream mediators that contribute to overload-induced expression of VEGF have yet to be ascertained. We found that muscle overload increased angiotensinogen expression, a precursor of angiotensin (Ang) II, and that Ang II signaling played an important role in basal VEGF production in C2C12 cells. Furthermore, matrix-bound VEGF released from myoblasts induced the activation of endothelial cells, as evidenced by elevated endothelial cell phospho-p38 levels. We also found that exogenous Ang II elevates VEGF expression, as well as MMP-2 transcript levels in C2C12 myotubes. Interestingly, these responses also were observed in skeletal muscle endothelial cells in response to Ang II treatment, indicating that these cells also can respond directly to the stimulus. The involvement of Ang II in muscle overload-induced angiogenesis was assessed. We found that blockade of AT1R-dependent Ang II signaling using losartan did not attenuate capillary growth. Surprisingly, increased levels of VEGF protein were detected in overloaded muscle from losartan-treated rats. Similarly, we observed elevated VEGF production in cultured endothelial cells treated with losartan alone or in combination with Ang II. These studies conclusively establish the requirement for muscle derived VEGF in overload-induced angiogenesis and highlight a role for Ang II in basal VEGF production in skeletal muscle. However, while Ang II signaling is activated following overload and plays a role in muscle VEGF production, inhibition of this pathway is not sufficient to halt overload-induced angiogenesis, indicating that AT1-independent signals maintain VEGF production in losartan-treated muscle.
Common Variation in the FTO Gene Alters Diabetes-Related Metabolic Traits to the Extent Expected Given Its Effect on BMI

OBJECTIVE—Common variation in the FTO gene is associated with BMI and type 2 diabetes. Increased BMI is associated with diabetes risk factors, including raised insulin, glucose, and triglycerides. We aimed to test whether FTO genotype is associated with variation in these metabolic traits. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We tested the association between FTO genotype and 10 metabolic traits using data from 17,037 white European individuals. We compared the observed effect of FTO genotype on each trait to that expected given the FTO-BMI and BMI-trait associations. RESULTS—Each copy of the FTO rs9939609 A allele was associated with higher fasting insulin (0.039 SD [95% CI 0.013–0.064]; P = 0.003), glucose (0.024 [0.001–0.048]; P = 0.044), and triglycerides (0.028 [0.003–0.052]; P = 0.025) and lower HDL cholesterol (0.032 [0.008–0.057]; P = 0.009). There was no evidence of these associations when adjusting for BMI. Associations with fasting alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl-transferase, LDL cholesterol, A1C, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were in the expected direction but did not reach P < 0.05. For all metabolic traits, effect sizes were consistent with those expected for the per allele change in BMI. FTO genotype was associated with a higher odds of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio 1.17 [95% CI 1.10–1.25]; P = 3 × 10−6). CONCLUSIONS—FTO genotype is associated with metabolic traits to an extent entirely consistent with its effect on BMI. Sample sizes of >12,000 individuals were needed to detect associations at P < 0.05. Our findings highlight the importance of using appropriately powered studies to assess the effects of a known diabetes or obesity variant on secondary traits correlated with these conditions.
The Effect of Online College Attendance on Job Obtainment Through Social Connections

ABSTRACT Attending college online has implications for students’ ability to make social connections and eventually obtain jobs by means of social capital. Previous academic work has tested employer callback rates to fictitious resumes treated by indications of either online or face-to-face college attendance but such methods overlook the networking aspect of job obtainment. This article uses data from a national survey to examine if online college attendance reduces the likelihood that a student uses a social connection to obtain his or her first job out of college. Using an instrumental variables approach to account for the nontraditional characteristics of online students, the author found that attending college exclusively online reduces the likelihood of obtaining a job through social connections, independent of personality and other relevant characteristics of the college setting.
How to Center Binary Deep Boltzmann Machines

This work analyzes centered binary Restricted Boltzmann Machines (RBMs) and binary Deep Boltzmann Machines (DBMs), where centering is done by subtracting offset values from visible and hidden variables. We show analytically that (i) centering results in a different but equivalent parameterization for artificial neural networks in general, (ii) the expected performance of centered binary RBMs/DBMs is invariant under simultaneous flip of data and offsets, for any offset value in the range of zero to one, (iii) centering can be reformulated as a different update rule for normal binary RBMs/DBMs, and (iv) using the enhanced gradient is equivalent to setting the offset values to the average over model and data mean. Furthermore, numerical simulations suggest that (i) optimal generative performance is achieved by subtracting mean values from visible as well as hidden variables, (ii) centered RBMs/DBMs reach significantly higher log-likelihood values than normal binary RBMs/DBMs, (iii) centering variants whose offsets depend on the model mean, like the enhanced gradient, suffer from severe divergence problems, (iv) learning is stabilized if an exponentially moving average over the batch means is used for the offset values instead of the current batch mean, which also prevents the enhanced gradient from diverging, (v) centered RBMs/DBMs reach higher LL values than normal RBMs/DBMs while having a smaller norm of the weight matrix, (vi) centering leads to an update direction that is closer to the natural gradient and that the natural gradient is extremly efficient for training RBMs, (vii) centering dispense the need for greedy layer-wise pre-training of DBMs, (viii) furthermore we show that pre-training often even worsen the results independently whether centering is used or not, and (ix) centering is also beneficial for auto encoders.
Estimating the impact of natural and anthropogenic emissions on cloud chemistry: the influence of organic compounds

In order to estimate the anthropogenic influence of gas and aerosol emissions from the Petroleum Industry in maritime zones with clouds of small vertical extent, a numerical 1D Eulerian cloud-chemical model with detailed microphysics (Alfonso and Raga, 2002) is used to simulate the influence of water soluble organic compounds (WSOC) and organic+inorganic gas emissions on cloud development. Following Mircea et al. (2002), we tested the sensitivity of the cloud and precipitation development in the classical inorganic case (CIC) and the inorganic+organic case (IOC) with respect to CCN compositions. The results indicate an increase in the droplet concentration for the IOC, and a delay in the development of precipitation. The pH spectral evolution was studied during both the development and precipitation stages. The influence of the diffusion of formic acid and its generation by oxidation of hydrated formaldehyde in the aqueous phase result in a reduction in the pH of precipitation in the range between 0.05 and 0.15 pH units (from 1 to 3%) for the high ambient SO 2 concentration (20 ppb) and between 0.2? 0.5 pH units (from 4 to 10%) for the low ambient SO 2 concentration (1 ppb) case.
Thunniform swimming: muscle dynamics and mechanical power production of aerobic fibres in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)

SUMMARY We studied the mechanical properties of deep red aerobic muscle of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), using both in vivo and in vitro methods. In fish swimming in a water tunnel at 1–3 L s–1 (where L is fork length), muscle length changes were recorded by sonomicrometry, and activation timing was quantified by electromyography. In some fish a tendon buckle was also implanted on the caudal tendon to measure instantaneous muscle forces transmitted to the tail. Between measurement sites at 0.45 to 0.65 L, the wave of muscle shortening progressed along the body at a relatively high velocity of 1.7 L per tail beat period, and a significant phase shift (31±4°) occurred between muscle shortening and local midline curvature, both suggesting red muscle power is directed posteriorly, rather than causing local body bending, which is a hallmark of thunniform swimming. Muscle activation at 0.53 L was initiated at about 50° of the tail beat period and ceased at about 160°, where 90° is peak muscle length and 180° is minimum length. Strain amplitude in the deep red fibres at 0.5 L was ±5.4%, double that predicted from midline curvature analysis. Work and power production were measured in isolated bundles of red fibres from 0.5 L by the work loop technique. Power was maximal at 3–4 Hz and fell to less than 50% of maximum after 6 Hz. Based on the timing of activation, muscle strain, tail beat frequencies and forces in the caudal tendon while swimming, we conclude that yellowfin tuna, like skipjack, use their red muscles under conditions that produce near-maximal power output while swimming. Interestingly, the red muscles of yellowfin tuna are slower than those of skipjack, which corresponds with the slower tail beat frequencies and cruising speeds in yellowfin.
Using Steganography to Improve Hash Functions' Collision Resistance

Lately, hash function security has received increased attention. Especially after the recent attacks that were presented for SHA-1 and MD5, the need for a new and more robust hash function has become imperative. Even though many solutions have been proposed as replacements, the transition to a new function could be costly and complex. In this paper, we introduce a mode of operation that can be applied to any existing or future hash function in order to improve its collision resistance. In particular, we use steganography, the art of hiding a message into another message, to create a scheme, named Σ-Hash, which enforces the security of hashing algorithms. We will demonstrate how, apart from hash function security, Σ-Hash can also be used for securing Open Source code from tampering attacks and other applications.
The Personal Hearing System—A Software Hearing Aid for a Personal Communication System

A concept and architecture of a personal communication system (PCS) is introduced that integrates audio communication and hearing support for the elderly and hearing-impaired through a personal hearing system (PHS). The concept envisions a central processor connected to audio headsets via a wireless body area network (WBAN). To demonstrate the concept, a prototype PCS is presented that is implemented on a netbook computer with a dedicated audio interface in combination with a mobile phone. The prototype can be used for field-testing possible applications and to reveal possibilities and limitations of the concept of integrating hearing support in consumer audio communication devices. It is shown that the prototype PCS can integrate hearing aid functionality, telephony, public announcement systems, and home entertainment. An exemplary binaural speech enhancement scheme that represents a large class of possible PHS processing schemes is shown to be compatible with the general concept. However, an analysis of hardware and software architectures shows that the implementation of a PCS on future advanced cell phone-like devices is challenging. Because of limitations in processing power, recoding of prototype implementations into fixed point arithmetic will be required and WBAN performance is still a limiting factor in terms of data rate and delay.
Going parallel over the rainbow

Some parallel algorithms are proposed to speed up computation of multivariate lattices used to evaluate rainbow options. These novel algorithms have been programmed using multi-threaded syntax in Gausstm of Aptech honing codes for 32 and 128 cores machines. Actual scaling is linear or superlinear in excess of Amdahl theoretical thresholds. Rainbow options have been valued with several multivariate lattices models programmed according to our parallelization algorithms providing results not found in extant literature in terms of granularity and convergence. Keywords: Rainbow Options, multivariate binomial lattices, multivariate trinomial lattices, parallel computation, multithreaded programming, multicore machines.
Peer Influences on Adolescent Body Image: Friends or Foes?

The aim of this study was to investigate how peers influence adolescent body image, and whether this influence was positive and/or negative from young peoples’ perspectives. One hundred and eleven adolescents aged 13 to 18 years from the Republic of Ireland participated in this study, in 17 focus groups. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Findings demonstrated that peers have an overwhelming negative impact on adolescent body image, and consequently, health. Both boys and girls revealed that the peer environment is characterized by a significant pressure to conform to appearance expectations, and deviations from such expectations lead to negative peer experiences. Positive peer influences were also revealed but to a far lesser extent.
Monolithic active-quenching and active-reset circuit for single-photon avalanche detectors

A monolithic circuit has been designed for active-quenching and active-reset of single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), which operate above the breakdown voltage V/sub BD/ for detecting single photons. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first fully integrated circuit of this kind ever reported. It can operate with any available SPAD device, since it generates pulses high enough to quench detectors biased up to 20 V above V/sub BD/. The deadtime after each photon detection is adjustable; the minimum value is 50 ns, corresponding to 20 Mcounts/s maximum saturated photon-counting rate. The power dissipation is low (20-mW standby), suitable also for portable instruments. The small size and high reliability of the circuit make it possible to develop miniaturized detector modules and SPAD-array detector instruments. The circuit opens the path to new developments in many applications of photon counting, from DNA sequencing to ultrahigh-sensitivity imaging.
Synchrotron-Tomography for Evaluation of Bone Tissue Regeneration using rapidly Resorbable Bone Substitute Materials

This article presents a novel approach to evaluate two-dimensional histomorphometric studies of biodegradable ceramic particles by means of element- sensitive, three-dimensional and non-destructive synchrotron-microtomography (SCT). An in vivo animal study was performed in which bone substitute materials (352i, GB9/25) were implanted in the sheep mandible to support the bone regeneration. After 12 and 24 weeks of implantation samples were prepared and investigated using SCT and subsequent 3D image analysis as well as histological evaluation. A comparison of corresponding tomographical and histological slices delivers information about the newly formed bone and its stage of development. Additionally SCT gives insights into the structural changes of the bony tissue in a given defect and the local biodegradation of the bone substitute material in a three- dimensional manner.
Story Representation and Interactive Drama

When building a story-intensive game, there is always the question of how much freedom to give the player. Give the player too little, and he may feel constrained and disconnected from the character he is controlling. Give him too much freedom, and the progression of the story may lag or stop altogether. The field of interactive drama attempts to strike a balance between interaction and authorship. The story experienced in an interactive drama is dependent both on the plot content authored as well as the player’s choices in the story. Which story representation is appropriate for a particular approach to interactive drama and the relationship between that language and other elements of the architecture is a key factor in design. This paper introduces our interactive drama architecture, IDA, and addresses the requirements it has for a story representation. How those requirements are met by our representational choices is the focus of the rest of the paper.
Using a time series of Landsat TM data for digital mapping to fill information gaps in topsoil texture central Tunisia

In arid and semi-arid areas, bare soils occupy a larger area than the vegetation cover. The vegetation covers only 10% to 30% of the soil surface with seasonal chlorophyll activity. The soil surface should thus be directly detectable by remote sensing. Concerning our study site in central Tunisia, existing soil maps are neither exhaustive nor sufficiently precise for environmental modeling or thematic mapping. The main purpose of our study was to produce topsoil texture map at fine spatial resolution over our area by combination of Landsat Thematic Mapper data. Landsat images were acquired in summer and in the plowing and sowing period in fall. A maximum of one image was selected per year. Vegetation areas were masked using a sill of the normalized difference vegetation index for each image. Relationships between textural indices (MID-Infrared) and particle size analysis were studied and were used to produce clay map at a spatial resolution of 30 m. Ordinary kriging and cokriging, by combining more than one image, were used to fill in the gaps created by the vegetation mask and to predict clay content of each pixel of the image at 100 m grid spatial resolution. Results showed that ordinary kriging can identify certain linear structures such as the wadi bed with low estimated clay content. Cokriging using more than one date improved the prediction of the soil fraction over the masked area.