Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Three‐Dimensional Fast Acquisition With Sonographically Based Volume Computer‐Aided Analysis for Imaging of the Fetal Heart at 18 to 22 Weeks' Gestation

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine how frequently cardiac images derived from 3‐dimensional (3D) volume sets, acquired by fast acquisition and evaluated with sonographically based volume computer‐aided analysis (sonoVCAD), were satisfactory for prenatal screening at 18 to 22 weeks' gestation. Methods. A prospective study of 100 women with singleton pregnancies was undertaken. Three fast acquisition 3D volume sets were obtained from each patient. Four reviewers independently evaluated the 4‐chamber and 5 extracted VCAD views. Factors contributing to unsatisfactory screening were also evaluated. Results. The frequency with which adequate views for cardiac screening could be obtained varied widely; some single views, such as that of the stomach, were well seen frequently, whereas others, such as the ductal arch, were well seen significantly less frequently (P < .05). A satisfactory screening examination, defined as a visualized 4‐chamber, left ventricular outflow tract, right ventricular outflow tract, and axial stomach view, was obtained for 43% to 65% of patients (dependent on reviewer). Logistic regression revealed that obesity (odds ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.7–5.0) and a fetus with the spine toward the maternal abdomen (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–2.5) were independently associated with an unsatisfactory screening examination Conclusions. Three‐dimensional fast acquisition volumes evaluated with sonoVCAD did not allow a satisfactory fetal cardiac screening examination to be obtained a high percentage of the time in a general obstetric population during the second trimester. Certain patient factors, such as body habitus and fetal position, are associated with unsatisfactory 3D imaging.
Comparative Evaluation of Various Independent Components (ICA) Tech for the removal of artifacts of EEG Signals

Summary In this paper, Independent Component Analysis (ICA) is applied to EEG signals collected from different mental tasks in order to remove the artifacts from the EEG signals. ICA is a statistical and computational technique for revealing hidden factors that underlie sets of random signals. In the ICA model the data samples are assumed to be linear mixture of some unknown latent variables, and the mixing system is also unknown. The latent variables are assumed to have a nongaussian distribution. These variables are the independent components of the observed data which can be found, up to some degree of accuracy, using different algorithms based on ICA techniques. There are several algorithms based on different approaches for ICA widely in use for all sort of applications. These algorithms include, but not limited to, the popular Fast-ICA, Joint Approximate Diagonalization of Eigen values (JADE), Infomax, and Extended Infomax etc. Fast-ICA is based on the optimization of negentropy of the datasets. Infomax and Extended Infomax are based on the minimization of mutual information between the data variables. JADE is based on the fourth-order cumulate matrices of the input data. A framework for accommodating four ICA algorithms is developed to estimate the convergence speed of the algorithms and hence selects the best algorithm for the specific type of data.
Eisenhart's theorem and the causal simplicity of Eisenhart's spacetime

We give a causal version of Eisenhart's geodesic characterization of classical mechanics. We emphasize the geometric, coordinate-independent properties needed to express Eisenhart's theorem in light of modern studies on the Bargmann structures (lightlike dimensional reduction, pp-waves). The construction of the space metric, Coriolis 1-form and scalar potential through which the theorem is formulated is shown in detail, and in particular a one-to-one correspondence between Newtonian frames and Abelian connections on suitable lightlike principal bundles is proved. The relation of Eisenhart's theorem in the lightlike case with a Fermat-type principle is pointed out. The operation of lightlike lift is introduced and the existence of minimizers for the classical action is related to the causal simplicity of Eisenhart's spacetime.
Useful and effective feature descriptors in content-based image retrieval of thermal images

Using content based image retrieval systems the images are compared on the grounds of the stored information of images. As simple descriptors the intensity (or color), the texture and the shape is widely used. Special property of thermal images - similarly to gray-scale images - the have only one intensity channel. But then these intensities change on an other way than in gray-scale images. In this paper the effectively usable intensity descriptors are examined, and the two dimensional Cartesian moments - as a descriptor - proved the best choice using thermal images. These feature descriptors can be compared by several distance and similarity measures, and some special weights are necessary in the case of thermal images.
A Survey of the Trends in Facial and Expression Recognition Databases and Methods

Automated facial identification and facial expression recognition have been topics of active research over the past few decades. Facial and expression recognition find applications in human-computer interfaces, subject tracking, real-time security surveillance systems and social networking. Several holistic and geometric methods have been developed to identify faces and expressions using public and local facial image databases. In this work we present the evolution in facial image data sets and the methodologies for facial identification and recognition of expressions such as anger, sadness, happiness, disgust, fear and surprise. We observe that most of the earlier methods for facial and expression recognition aimed at improving the recognition rates for facial feature-based methods using static images. However, the recent methodologies have shifted focus towards robust implementation of facial/expression recognition from large image databases that vary with space (gathered from the internet) and time (video recordings). The evolution trends in databases and methodologies for facial and expression recognition can be useful for assessing the next-generation topics that may have applications in security systems or personal identification systems that involve "Quantitative face" assessments.
Enterprise resource planning: cultural fits and misfits: is ERP a universal solution?

E RP software packages that manage and integrate business processes across organizational functions and locations cost millions of dollars to buy, several times as much to implement, and necessitate disruptive organizational change. While some companies have enjoyed significant gains, others have had to scale back their projects and accept minimal benefits, or even abandon implementation of ERP projects [4]. Historically, a common problem when adopting package software has been the issue of “misfits,” that is, the gaps between the functionality offered by the package and that required by the adopting organization [1, 3]. As a result, organizations have had to choose among adapting to the new functionality, living with the shortfall, instituting workarounds, or customizing the package. ERP software, as a class of package software, also presents this problematic choice to organizations. The problem is exacerbated because ERP implementation is more complex due to cross-module integration, data standardization, adoption of the underlying business model (“best practices”), compressed implementation schedule, and the involvement of a large number of stakeholders. The knowledge gap among implementation personnel is usually significant. Few organizational users underChristina Soh, Sia Siew Kien, and Joanne Tay-Yap
Accurate temperature estimation using noisy thermal sensors

Multicore SOCs rely on runtime thermal measurements using on-chip sensors for DTM. In this paper we address the problem of estimating the actual temperature of on-chip thermal sensor when the sensor reading has been corrupted by noise. Thermal sensors are prone to noise due to fabrication randomness, VDD fluctuations etc. This causes discrepancy between actual temperature and the one predicted by thermal sensor. Our experiments estimate this variation to be around 30%. In this paper we present a statistical methodology for predicting the actual temperature for a given sensor reading. We present two techniques: single sensor prediction and multi-sensor prediction. The latter tries to estimate the actual temperature for each sensor (of the many on-chip sensors) simultaneously while exploiting the correlations between temperature and noise of different sensors. When the underlying randomness follows a Gaussian characteristic, we present optimal schemes of estimating the expected temperature. We also present heuristic schemes for the case where the Gaussian assumption fails to hold. The experiments showed that using our estimation schemes the RMS error can be reduce as much as 67% as compared to blindly trusting the sensors to be noise free.
Sensitivity analysis of noise robustness methods

The paper addresses the problem of noise robustness from the standpoint of the sensitivity to noise estimation errors. Since the noise is usually estimated in the power-spectral domain, we show that the implied error in the cepstral domain has interesting properties. These properties allow us to compare two key methods used in noise robust speech recognition: spectral subtraction and parallel model combination. We show that parallel model combination has an advantage over spectral subtraction because it is less sensitive to noise estimation errors. Experimental results on the Aurora2 database confirm our theoretical findings, with parallel model combination clearly outperforming spectral subtraction and other well-known signal-based robustness methods. Our Aurora2 results, with parallel model combination, a basic MFCC front-end and a simple noise estimation, are close to the best results obtained on this database with very complex signal processing schemes.
New Covariant Gauges in String Field Theory

A single-parameter family of covariant gauge fixing conditions in bosonic string field theory is proposed. It is a natural string field counterpart of the covariant gauge in the conventional gauge theory, which includes the Landau gauge as well as the Feynman (Siegel) gauge as special cases. The action in the Landau gauge is largely simplified in such a way that numerous component fields have no derivatives in their kinetic terms and appear in at most quadratic in the vertex.
The Disputed Discovery of Facial and Trigeminal Nerve Function: Revisiting the Contributions of Herbert Mayo and Charles Bell.

BACKGROUND The first description of the voluntary motor function of the facial nerve and separate sensory-motor contributions of the trigeminal nerve is most commonly attributed to Charles Bell. However, a review of the original scientific accounts and subsequent historical publications question the validity of this credit. The objective of the present historical analysis is to clarify the contributions of Herbert Mayo toward discovering the functions of the fifth and seventh cranial nerves and to raise awareness of this historical controversy within the medical literature. METHODS Review of Charles Bell's and Herbert Mayo's original dissertations published between 1821 and 1823, and subsequent reports relevant to these primary works. RESULTS Bell's submissions to the Royal Society of London in 1821 and 1822 describe the seventh nerve as the "respiratory nerve of the face" responsible for involuntary coordination of facial movement with the organs of respiration. Separately, Bell states that the fifth nerve is responsible for sensibility and voluntary movement of the facial muscles. In these accounts, Bell only peripherally alludes to the motor function of the seventh nerve and often comments inaccurately on fifth and seventh cranial nerve innervation. In contrast, in 1822 and 1823, Herbert Mayo first accurately and unequivocally defined the voluntary motor function of the facial nerve and sensory-motor function of the trigeminal nerve on the basis of his detailed experiments. The ultimate transfer of acknowledgment to Bell was rooted in surreptitious reworking of Bell's original dissertations and personal attacks against Mayo rather than arguments of scientific merit. CONCLUSION Several notable clinicians and anatomists have contributed to our current understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the facial and trigeminal nerves, including Charles Bell; however, Herbert Mayo should be remembered for first providing a more accurate and clear description of their separate functions.
Multi-Q: Multiple Queries Optimization Based on MapReduce in Cloud

With the explosion of data in the past decade, big data is becoming a research hotspot in the information field. Many cloud-based distributed data processing platforms have been proposed to provide efficient and cost effective solutions for big data query processing, such as Hadoop, Hive, Pig, etc. However, most of the current research works are focus on improving the performance of query processing based on the view of systematics while without considering the characteristics of queries themselves, such as the query similarity, which will cause large numbers of redundant computation, effect query execution efficiency, thus having an adverse impact on promotion of the multi-queries processing performance. To solve this problem, in this paper, we propose a Multi-queries optimization framework based on MapReduce-oriented cloud environment (Multi-Q), which utilizes the dependence between multiple queries to realize query results reuse. Firstly, a cluster-based partition algorithm called CPA has been exploited to conduct the logic partition of the search range of query workload. Secondly, a multi-queries reuse dependence graph (MRDG) construction method on the basis of the cluster-based partition results has been presented to depict the dependence between the multiple queries. Finally, a Multi-Q processing algorithm based on Multi-Q Reuse Dependence Graph has been put forward to achieve the query results reuse and improve the overall query processing performance. We evaluate our approach by deploying Multi-Q based on Hadoop in a real cloud environment, called SEU-Cloud, and conducting extensive experiments based on the standard TPC-H. The result verifies that compared with Hive, the performance of improvement is approximately 39.3% by using our Multi-Q.
An Economic Comparison of Biological and Conventional Control Strategies for Whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in Greenhouse Poinsettias

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the costs of biologically controlling infestations of silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring, in New England greenhouse operations on poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild. ex Koltz, using the parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa Gahan (Nile Delta strain). Partial budget analysis was used to compare costs for conventional verses biological control regimens. Four alternative whitefly control budgets are developed; two conventional chemical-based control budgets formulated with and without the use of imidacloprid, and two biological control budgets which demonstrate the impact of possibly greater pest monitoring efforts necessary to implement this type strategy successfully. The analysis shows that biological whitefly control costs were >300% greater than conventional chemical-based control strategy costs. Most of this increase is caused by the higher costs of Encarsia formosa as the material control input. If monitoring costs are held constant across different strategies, labor costs actually decline for biological control. This is because of a significant reduction in the number of control applications made and the relatively lower cost of applying E. formosa. If more extensive monitoring efforts are required to implement biological control successfully, labor costs increase by 56% over the conventional pre-imidacloprid regimen. Based on these results, the authors conclude that cheaper and more reliable means of producing E. formosa must be developed before this strategy will become economically viable for commercial poinsettia greenhouse production.
2D map creator for robot navigation by utilizing Kinect and rotary encoder

2D map creator for robot navigation is used for robot to move around the surrounding without any collision. Typical robot navigation is relied on ultrasonic sensor as well as rotary encoder. In this paper, we present 2D map creator system for robot navigation based on Kinect device and rotary encoder. 2D map creator system allows robot for self-mapping the surrounding area while robot is moving around. The output is a 2-dimensional (2D) map representing areas that have been passed by the robot. Next, the map is used by robot to return to home automatically. Moreover, we present a technique in map creator system for robot navigation. The Kinect device and rotary encoder are placed on the robot. The depth image is utilized to distinguish between obstacle and non-obstacle object. The combination between depth image and rotary encoder produce a 2D map used for robot navigation. We use Djikstra algorithm for calculating the shortest way between robot positions and home position. Our system has been tested under laboratory environment. The effective distance range is 60 to 600 Cm. Our rotary encoder sensor is also successfully realized and has average error 5.05%. Our 2D map creator required 1.46 second for every creating map at one location. Also, it has 2.23% of error distance on 2D map. All experiment results show that our 2D map creator is ready for performing return to home automatically.
An approach based on particle swarm optimization for fast object detection

This paper describes a new object detection approach using particle swarm optimization (PSO). The approach is based on the idea that the task of finding a well-matched subwindow (object) can be formulated as an integer nonlinear optimization problem (INOP). We use PSO to solve this formulated INOP. Experiments in the domain of face detection are presented and the results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Modulation of the Surface Proteome through Multiple Ubiquitylation Pathways in African Trypanosomes

Recently we identified multiple suramin-sensitivity genes with a genome wide screen in Trypanosoma brucei that includes the invariant surface glycoprotein ISG75, the adaptin-1 (AP-1) complex and two deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) orthologous to ScUbp15/HsHAUSP1 and pVHL-interacting DUB1 (type I), designated TbUsp7 and TbVdu1, respectively. Here we have examined the roles of these genes in trafficking of ISG75, which appears key to suramin uptake. We found that, while AP-1 does not influence ISG75 abundance, knockdown of TbUsp7 or TbVdu1 leads to reduced ISG75 abundance. Silencing TbVdu1 also reduced ISG65 abundance. TbVdu1 is a component of an evolutionarily conserved ubiquitylation switch and responsible for rapid receptor modulation, suggesting similar regulation of ISGs in T. brucei. Unexpectedly, TbUsp7 knockdown also blocked endocytosis. To integrate these observations we analysed the impact of TbUsp7 and TbVdu1 knockdown on the global proteome using SILAC. For TbVdu1, ISG65 and ISG75 are the only significantly modulated proteins, but for TbUsp7 a cohort of integral membrane proteins, including the acid phosphatase MBAP1, that is required for endocytosis, and additional ISG-related proteins are down-regulated. Furthermore, we find increased expression of the ESAG6/7 transferrin receptor and ESAG5, likely resulting from decreased endocytic activity. Therefore, multiple ubiquitylation pathways, with a complex interplay with trafficking pathways, control surface proteome expression in trypanosomes.
Characterizing intransitive noninterference for 3-domain security policies with observability

This note introduces a new algorithmic approach to the problem of checking the property of intransitive noninterference (INI) using discrete-event systems (DESs) tools and concepts. INI property is widely used in formal verification of security problems in computer systems and protocols. The approach consists of two phases: First, a new property called iP-observability (observability based on a purge function) is introduced to capture INI. We prove that a system satisfies INI if and only if it is iP-observable. Second, a relation between iP-observability and P-observability (observability as used in DES) is established by transforming the automaton modeling a system/protocol into an automaton where P-observability (and, hence, iP-observability) can be determined. This allows us to check INI by checking P-observability, which can be done efficiently. Our approach can be used for all systems/protocols with three domains or levels, which is sufficient for most noninterference problems for cryptographic protocols and systems.
Tracking and Integration Aspects of a Mobile Augmented Reality Tool for Shipbuilding

In this paper, some of the architectural and tracking aspects of the software engine used in our on-going MARIN (Mobile Augmented Reality Tool for Marine Industry) project are described. The purpose of the project is to construct an augmented reality tool for shipbuilding. The future target usages of the system vary from inspection to actually improving the efficiency of some of the repeating procedures in shipbuilding. The system also includes means for indoor localization and access to the pre-existing CAD model of the ship. In our case, the tool is hosted by Unity 3D, which allows the interfaces between the inertial sensors and the visual tracking thread. Some of the implementation issues related to these interfaces are described, while some challenges related to visual tracking are also discussed.
Reconfigurable Traffic-Aware Radio Interconnect for a 2048-core Chip Multiprocessor

Chip Multiprocessors (CMPs) composed of more than 1000 cores are expected to be manufactured before the end of next decade. Conventional wired interconnects are already incapable to provide the necessary high throughput and low latency to multiprocessors of this scale. Thus, on-chip Radio Frequency (RF) and optical interconnects are proposed recently to surpass communication limits. However, these interconnect structures fail to provide essential requirements of bandwidth reconfigurability and broadcast support with a low complex design. In this work, we evaluate an OFDMA based on-chip RF interconnect with a flexible bandwidth infrastructure, that exploits the bimodal packet sizes of on-chip traffic, while requiring no signaling overhead or complex circuitry. It is shown that it can provide up to x3.5 less average latency compared to a static system with no flexibility.
A historic jet-emission minimum reveals hidden spectral features in 3C 273

Aims. The aim of this work is to identify and study spectral features in the quasar 3C 273 usually blended by its strong jet emission. Methods. A historic minimum in the sub-millimetre emission of 3C 273 triggered coordinated multi-wavelength observations in June 2004. X-ray observations from the INTEGRAL, XMM-Newton and RXTE satellites are complemented by ground-based optical, infrared, millimetre and radio observations. The overall spectrum is used to model the infrared and X-ray spectral components. Results. Three thermal dust emission components are identified in the infrared. The dust emission on scales from 1 pc to several kpc is comparable to that of other quasars, as expected by AGN unification schemes. The observed weakness of the X-ray emission supports the hypothesis of a synchrotron self-Compton origin for the jet component. There is a clear soft-excess and we find evidence for a very broad iron line which could be emitted in a disk around a Kerr black hole. Other signatures of a Seyfert-like X-ray component are not detected.