Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The science and education of mechatronics engineering

We try to get to the heart of multidisciplinary engineering, of which mechatronics is an excellent example, and point out how the integration of disciplines leads to new degrees of freedom in design and corresponding research directions that otherwise would not have been investigated. This is the major contribution achieved by a multidisciplinary approach to engineering science; it leads to a new important research field and at the same time helps to push research in related fields into new fruitful directions. We point to a number of areas that have benefited from the interdisciplinary perspective and a focus on interactions between disciplines including: engineering curriculum; mechatronics research; control of nonlinear mechanical systems; real time control systems modelling; and time varying control systems.
Chinese Character Images Recognition and Its Application in Mobile Platform

Chinese characters are profound and polysemantic. Reading a Chinese character is a procedure of image understanding, if the Chinese character is captured as an image. Due to the complexity of structure and plenty of Chinese characters, there always exist some unfamiliar characters when reading books, so it would be great if a tool is provided to help users understand the meaning of unknown characters. We propose a method that combines global and local features(i.e., GIST and SIFT features) to recognize the Chinese character images captured from mobile camera. Three schemes are investigated based on practical considerations. Firstly,the so-called GIST and SIFT descriptors extracted from Chinese character images are adopted purely as features. Then filter the SIFT feature points of similar Chinese character images based on GIST feature. Finally, compress the storage of GIST and SIFT descriptors to accommodate mobile platform with Similarity Sensitive Coding(SSC) algorithm. At the stage of recognition, the top 2 k Chinese characters are firstly obtained by hamming distance in GIST feature space, then reorder the selected characters as final result by SIFT feature. We build an Android app that implements the recognition algorithm. Experiment shows satisfying recognition results of our proposed application compared to other Android apps.
Relativistic effects in bistatic SAR processing and system synchronization

This paper addresses relativistic effects in bistatic and multistatic SAR systems and missions. It is shown that the use of different reference frames for bistatic SAR processing and bistatic radar synchronization is prone to notable phase and time errors. These errors are a direct consequence of the relativity of simultaneity and can be explained in good approximation within the framework of Einstein's special theory of relativity. Using the invariance of the spacetime interval, an analytic expression is derived which shows that the time and phase errors increase with increasing along-track distance between the satellites. The predicted errors are in excellent agreement with measurements from TanDEM-X and provide a satisfactory explanation for previously observed DEM height offsets that exceeded ±10 m. Consideration of the unexpected relativistic effects is essential for accurate DEM generation in TanDEM-X and has in the meantime been implemented in the operational processing chain.
A face detection system implemented on FPGA based on RCT colour segmentation

Face detection can be termed as a one of the component of object-class detection. Detecting an object's location and size from an image or a video is known as object-class detection. So, in the face detection methods, we basically try to find the location of the facial region of a human. There are many algorithms available for the face detection. Some are slow, while some are robust. But not every face detection algorithm can be implemented on the hardware. Here we will implement the method involving RCT Colour based segmentation. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to detect faces from an image considering HSV, YCbCr and RGB colour spaces. We will also put some masking so as to remove unwanted detected portions.
Image Point Feature Matching by Triangulation

ABSTRACTMatching point features is recognized as one of the most important processes in many computer vision areas, such as motion analysis, stereo image processing, and scene analysis. In this paper, we present a new method to find the correspondence of point features between two images. Our method first constructs a network of triangles using extracted point features through a triangulation algorithm. The corresponding triangles between two images are then found by comparing the intensity distribution, and the Mahalanobis distance of a feature vector which is composed of the area, the center of gravity, the sum of side lengths and orientation of each side, and the two moment invariants of the triangles. As each element of the feature vector is a function of the three vertices of any given triangle, the uncertainty modeling of this vector is based on the error propagation from these vertices. The correspondence of triangles between two images naturally provides the corresponding point features. The image.
Proteomic analysis of rice embryo: An approach for investigating Gα protein‐regulated proteins

The rice dwarf1 (d1) mutant, which lacks the α subunit of a heterotrimeric G protein (Gα protein), shows abnormal morphology due to shortened internodes, dark green leaves and grains that are small and round. Proteome analysis was used in this study to aid in determining the function of Gα protein in rice embryos. Using 2‐DE, seven seed embryo proteins were shown to be down‐regulated in the d1 mutant as compared with its wild type. These seven proteins included a receptor for activated C‐kinase (RACK) and six rice embryo globulin‐2 proteins (REG2). The six REG2 have similar molecular masses with minor differences in pI. In addition to the reduced accumulation of RACK in the d1 mutant, the increase in QL/d1, in which a constitutively active form of the Gα protein is expressed, was significantly higher as compared with wild type. The level of accumulation of these seven proteins during seed development and maturation did not change significantly until the 2nd wk after pollination. Reduced accumulation of these seven proteins started in the d1 mutant at the 3rd wk after pollination, and continued until seed maturation was complete. All seven proteins were completely absent 24 h after imbibition in both d1 mutant and its wild type. However, the phytohormone abscisic acid promoted the expression level of RACK after imbibition in the wild type as compared with d1 mutant. These results suggest that RACK is regulated by Gα‐protein and plays an important role in a basic cellular process as well as in rice embryogenesis and germination.
Bayesian estimation of inertial parameters of robots

The authors present a Bayesian approach using an energy model to identify the base (identifiable) inertial parameters of a robot, given a prior statistical information (expected value and covariance matrix) about the solution vector. An application of a three-degree-of-freedom robot is simulated to show the efficiency of the method. <<ETX>>
LocationSpark: In-memory Distributed Spatial Query Processing and Optimization

Due to the ubiquity of spatial data applications and the large amounts of spatial data that these applications generate and process, there is a pressing need for scalable spatial query processing. In this paper, we present new techniques for spatial query processing and optimization in an in-memory and distributed setup to address scalability. More specifically, we introduce new techniques for handling query skew that commonly happens in practice, and minimizes communication costs accordingly. We propose a distributed query scheduler that uses a new cost model to minimize the cost of spatial query processing. The scheduler generates query execution plans that minimize the effect of query skew. The query scheduler utilizes new spatial indexing techniques based on bitmap filters to forward queries to the appropriate local nodes. Each local computation node is responsible for optimizing and selecting its best local query execution plan based on the indexes and the nature of the spatial queries in that node. All the proposed spatial query processing and optimization techniques are prototyped inside Spark, a distributed memory-based computation system. Our prototype system is termed LocationSpark. The experimental study is based on real datasets and demonstrates that LocationSpark can enhance distributed spatial query processing by up to an order of magnitude over existing in-memory and distributed spatial systems.
New unipolar switching power device figures of merit

Several new unipolar switching power device figures of merit are proposed based on proper consideration of power device conduction and switching losses. These figures of merit can be used for device and material comparison. The relative advantages of different semiconductor materials are then compared. Using the new figures of merit, the predicted advantages of power devices based on wide-bandgap materials are less than those predicted by other published figures of merits.
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hap5p homolog from fission yeast reveals two conserved domains that are essential for assembly of heterotetrameric CCAAT-binding factor

The CCAAT-binding factor is an evolutionarily conserved heteromeric transcription factor that binds to CCAAT box-containing upstream activation sites within the promoters of numerous eukaryotic genes. The CCAAT-binding factor from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a heterotetramer that contains the subunits Hap2p, Hap3p, Hap4p, and Hap5p and that functions in the activation of genes involved in respiratory metabolism. Here we describe the isolation of the cDNA encoding the Schizosaccharomyces pombe homolog of Hap5p, designated php5+. We have shown that Php5p is a subunit of the CCAAT-binding factor in fission yeast and is required for transcription of the S. pombe cyc1+ gene. Analysis of the evolutionarily conserved regions of Hap5p, Php5p, and the mammalian homolog CBF-C revealed two essential domains within Hap5p that are required for DNA binding and transcriptional activation. One is an 87-amino-acid core domain that is conserved among Hap5p, Php5p, and CBF-C and that is required for the assembly of the Hap2p-Hap3p-Hap5p heterotrimer both in vitro and in vivo. A second domain that is essential for the recruitment of Hap4p into the CCAAT-binding complex was identified in Hap5p and Php5p.
Effectiveness of hormone therapy for treating dry eye syndrome in postmenopausal women: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND The efficacy of hormone therapy (HT) on dry eye syndrome remains debatable. OBJECTIVE To study the efficacy of HT on dry eye syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHOD A randomized controlled, double blind, parallel group, community-based study in 42 post-menopausal patients was conducted. The patients had dry eye syndrome and were not taking any medications. They were assigned to one of two groups. Group A comprised 21 patients given transdermal 17 beta-estradiol (50 mg/day) and medroxy progesterone acetate (2.5 mg/day) continuously for three months and group B comprised 21 patients given both transdermal and oral placebo. Participants in the study were included for final analysis. The improvement of dry eye symptoms were measured by visual analog scale, tear secretion, intraocular pressure, corneal thickness, and tear breakup time determined before treatment and at 6 and 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS At 12 weeks, the number of patients who reported improvement of dry eye symptoms was greater in the HT group than that in the placebo group. However, the difference was not statistically significant (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.04-2.80 and 0.60, 95% CI 0.33-2.03 in right and left eye, respectively). For other parameters, there was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION According to the present study, there is no strong evidence to support the use of HT for treating dry eye syndrome. The limited number of participants included in the present study may have contributed to the insignificant effects.
Representing Images' Meanings by Associative Values with Given Lexicons Considering the Semantic Tolerance Relation

An approach of representing meanings of images based on associative values with lexicons is proposed. For this, the semantic tolerance relation model (STRM) that reflects the tolerance degree between defined lexicons is generated, and two factors of semantic relevance (SR) and visual similarity (VS) are involved in generating associative values. Furthermore, the algorithm of calculating associative values using pixel-based bidirectional associative memories (BAMs) in combination with the STRM, which is easy in implementation, is depicted. The experiment results ofmultilexicons-based retrieval by individuals show the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed method in finding the expected images and the improvement in retrieving accuracy because of incorporating SR with VS in representing meanings of images.
Hidden Markov model based epileptic seizure detection using tunable Q wavelet transform

Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders affecting 70 million people worldwide. The present work is focused on designing an efficient algorithm for automatic seizure detection by using electroencephalogram (EEG) as a noninvasive procedure to record neuronal activities in the brain. EEG signals' underlying dynamics are extracted to differentiate healthy and seizure EEG signals. Shannon entropy, collision entropy, transfer entropy, conditional probability, and Hjorth parameter features are extracted from subbands of tunable Q wavelet transform. Efficient decomposition level for different feature vector is selected using the Kruskal-Wallis test to achieve good classification. Different features are combined using the discriminant correlation analysis fusion technique to form a single fused feature vector. The accuracy of the proposed approach is higher for Q=2 and J=10. Transfer entropy is observed to be significant for different class combinations. Proposed approach achieved 100% accuracy in classifying healthy-seizure EEG signal using simple and robust features and hidden Markov model with less computation time. The proposed approach efficiency is evaluated in classifying seizure and non-seizure surface EEG signals. The system has achieved 96.87% accuracy in classifying surface seizure and nonseizure EEG segments using efficient features extracted from different J level.
Interference Alignment and Leakage-Based Iterative Coordinated Beam-Forming for Multi-User MIMO in LTE-Advanced

To suppress co-channel interference and achieve good system performance in a Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) downlink network, we introduce a novel Interference Alignment (IA) receive matrix design methodology along with a low complexity iterative coordinated beamforming scheme. The introduced scheme takes into account the codebook-based feedback for LTE/LTE-Advanced systems. In our design, IA is utilized to mitigate the inter-cell interference while leakage-based iterative coordinated beamforming is used to combat the intra-cell interference. Optimal transmit beamforming vectors are characterized and a closed-form expression for these beamforming vectors in the presence of quantization error due to the codebook-based feedback is also presented. Simulation is conducted to illustrate the performance of introduced coordinated beamforming strategy. It suggests that for 4 by 2 MIMO systems, rank 2 codebook-based feedback yields much better performance than rank 1 feedback. Furthermore, for a fixed payload size of the codebook, unlike zero-forcing beamforming where the sum throughput is bounded as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) increases, in our scheme the performance gap between the rank 2 feedback and perfect feedback remains almost constant as SNR increases.
Extraction and partial characterization of enterotoxin produced by Salmonella spp . isolated from sheep

The enterotoxic moity present in the cell–free culther filterate of Salmonalla spp. was purified to apparent homogeneity by salt precipitation with ammonium sulphate and chromatography through sephadex G-100. It was non dialyzable. The entertoxin appeared to be of high molecular weight 100 KDa and composed of Glycoprotein. The enterotoxic, rapid and delayed permeability and increase suckling mice intestine weight activities were attributed to single protein moiety.
Folic Acid Improves Baroreceptor Sensitivity in Hypertension

In hypertension baroreceptor-mediated modulation of heart rate is impaired, resulting in a decreased vagal control. Reactive oxygen species produced locally in the vasculature decrease baroreceptor sensitivity. Folic acid has antioxidant properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test whether folic acid improves baroreceptor function in hypertension. Twenty-one male patients with hypertension not taking any drugs for 2 weeks participated in the study and were randomized to folic acid 5 mg or matching placebo. Cardiac and vascular sympathetic baroreceptor functions were tested before and after a single dose of folic acid or placebo with two different methods: the α-coefficient method and the phenylephrine (PE) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) bolus method. In the folic acid group both methods showed significantly improved cardiac and vascular sympathetic baroreceptor sensitivity compared with placebo. This study provides evidence that folic acid improves cardiac and vascular sympathetic baroreceptor sensitivity in hypertensive patients, which suggests an improved vagal control and an enhanced baroreceptor modulation of sympathetic vasomotor tone. Thus, folic acid may represent a novel treatment for prevention of orthostatic dysregulation and/or arrhythmic complications resulting from baroreceptor dysfunction.
Traditional Teaching Strategies versus Cooperative Teaching Strategies: Which Can Improve Achievement Scores in Chinese Middle Schools?

This study examines two teaching styles in Chinese middle schools, traditional lecture-based and cooperative learning. The study uses simple descriptive statistics to analyze economic status and achievement scores for both strategies in four Chinese middle schools. There were 145 randomly selected middle school students involved in the study. The results showed that the participants in the traditional lecture-based group obtained higher achievement scores during the course of the semester. The paper concludes with some discussion about the application, implementation and recommendation of traditional and cooperative learning and their
Re-construction of an AUV as a platform for oceanographic research and a test bed for implementation of control systems based on neurobiological networks

This work considers the re-design of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in which an innovative, neurobiological inspired sensorization control system is being implemented. Hardware architecture and sensorization control software are being developed to allow autonomous navigation procedures for submarine vehicles. After the refurbishment of the vehicle and the update of its control system, the ROV is able to load CTD sensors, chlorophyll, turbidity, optical dissolved oxygen (YSI V6600 sonde) and nitrate analyzer (SUNA) together with ADCP, side scan sonar and video camera, in a flexible configuration to provide a water quality monitoring platform with mapping capabilitiesi.
Clinical teachers’ views on how teaching teams deliver and manage residency training

Background: Residents learn by working in a multidisciplinary context, in different locations, with many clinical teachers. Although clinical teachers are collectively responsible for residency training, little is known about the way teaching teams function. Aim: We conducted a qualitative study to explore clinical teachers’ views on how teaching teams deliver residency training. Method: Data were collected during six focus group interviews in 2010. Results: The analysis revealed seven teamwork themes: (1) clinical teachers were more passionate about clinical expertise than about knowledge of teaching and teamwork; (2) residents needed to be informed about clinical teachers’ shared expectations; (3) the role of the programme director in the teaching team needed further clarification; (4) the main topics of discussion in teaching teams were resident performance and the division of teaching tasks; (5) the structural elements of the organisation of residency training were clear; (6) clinical teachers had difficulty giving and receiving feedback and (7) clinical teachers felt under pressure to be accountable for team performance to external parties. Conclusion: The clinical teachers did not consider teamwork to be of any great significance to residency training. Teachers’ views of professionalism and their own experiences as residents may explain their non-teamwork directed attitude. Efforts to strengthen teamwork within teaching teams may impact positively on the quality of residency training.
Ring-resonator reflector with a waveguide crossing

We demonstrate the design and performance of a silicon-on-insulator ring-resonator reflector with a low-loss, low-crosstalk waveguide crossing. The device is simulated using the transfer-matrix method and a 2D finite-difference mode solver. It functions as a reflective-type notch filter and can be used for optical communications or thermal, biochemical, or other sensors. An extinction ratio of over 25 dB is observed experimentally.
Robotic hand project

In this work, the mechatronic based robotic hand is controlled by the position data taken from the glove which has flex sensors mounted to capture finger bending of the human hand. The angular movement of human hand's fingers are perceived and processed by a microcontroller, and the robotic hand is controlled by actuating servo motors. It has seen that robotic hand can simulate the movement of the human hand that put on the glove, during tests have done. This robotic hand can be used not only in automation, but also handling operations in dangerous environment for people. The robotic hand is prepared for adding temperature sensors on it. By the help of temperature sensor integrated to the robotic hand, temperature information can also be monitored.
Effect of Exposure to Terrorism on Sleep-Related Experiences in Israeli Young Adults

General sleep-related experiences (Watson, 2001), including special dream states such as elevated dream recall, nightmares, hypnagogic hallucinations, flying dreams, and waking dreams, have been shown to be associated with life stress and psychopathological distress (Soffer-Dudek & Shahar, 2009). In this study, we attempted to examine these associations within the context of terror-related stress. In the week following operation Oferet Yetzuka in Israel, ninety-one participants filled out questionnaires concerning sleep experiences, psychopathological distress, and degree of exposure to terror. These participants were part of a larger study conducted three years earlier (Soffer-Dudek & Shahar, 2009). General sleep experiences (GSEs) were positively correlated to exposure to terror through media, a link that was mediated through psychopathological symptoms. Surprisingly, GSEs were negatively correlated with physical exposure variables. We suggest that GSEs may be related to a ruminative coping style (i.e., not “letting go,” both by day and by night).