Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Connected Smartphones and High-Performance Servers for Remote Object Detection

Object detection is one of the main challenges of cyber-physical systems for mobile applications. Mobile devices as embedded systems might not provide sufficient performance to meet the computational requirements for object detection, whereas it is not reasonable to enhance such devices with powerful processors. In this paper, we present a prototype system for mobile object detection based on smartphones and high-performance servers supplemented with graphics processing units (GPUs). The basic idea in the design of this system is to offload expensive image processing on a remote server over a wireless network, which allows mobile devices to support high-precision object detection. We describe an experimental evaluation using Android smartphones and high-end workstation with NVIDIA GPUs. Our conclusion is that mobile object detection is achievable at the expense of millisecond latency due to the communication between the mobile device and the remote server.
Goal content in exercise : a self-determination theory perspective

The purpose of the present thesis was to explore the cognitive, affective and behavioural correlates of adults’ exercise goals using the goal content perspective forwarded in Self-determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 2000). In Study 1, to facilitate theoretically consistent measurement of exercise goal content, the Goal Content for Exercise Questionnaire (GCEQ) was developed and validated in multiple adult samples (N = 1306). In Study 2, analysis of cross-sectional data from 410 adults showed that relative intrinsic goal content (assessed by the GCEQ) predicted variance in adaptive cognitive, affective and behavioural aspects of exercise. Commensurate the hypotheses of SDT, the effect of goal content on cognitive and affective (but not behavioural) variables remained significant above and beyond exercise behavioural regulation. The cognitive and affective effects of goal content were shown to be partially mediated by psychological need satisfaction. In Study 3, qualitative analysis of exercisers (N = 11) experiences of pursuing relative intrinsic/extrinsic goals revealed themes that advance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the findings of Study 2. Extending the findings of Study 2, using a prospective design and objective behavioural assessment, in Study 4 (N = 101) a motivational sequence from goal content to engagement in health-enhancing bouts of exercise behaviour via behavioural regulation was observed. Collectively, the four studies provide a comprehensive analysis of exercise goal content from an SDT perspective. The findings highlight the utility of the goal content construct in understanding motivation for exercise and provide a foundation for theoretically aligned future research.
108 Gb/s OFDMA-PON With Polarization Multiplexing and Direct Detection

In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate the first single-¿ 40 Gb/s and 108 Gb/s multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) passive optical networks (PON) architecture for next-generation PON systems based on OFDM, polarization multiplexing (POLMUX), and direct detection. Superior performance was exhibited after 20 km SSMF transmission and a 1:32 optical split. The novel POLMUX approach greatly simplified receiver-end hardware compared to coherent detectors, while increasing spectral efficiency to enable 40+ Gb/s data rates. Moreover, the proposed solution achieved the highest single-wavelength downstream transmission reported to date in any PON system. As such, the introduced architecture may be viewed as a highly attractive candidate for next-generation optical access.
Feedback connection for deep neural network-based acoustic modeling

The use of auxiliary features is an effective way to improve the performance of deep neural network (DNN)-based acoustic models. Most approaches use auxiliary features that represent the speaker or the environment. These auxiliary features are usually computed independently of the acoustic model. This paper investigates a types of auxiliary features obtained from the output of a hidden layer that feeds back to the input layer of the network. Since the auxiliary features are extracted from the hidden layer of the network no external information is required such as the speaker or the environment. Experimentally, by forcing the extraction of the auxiliary features from the same networks, we can further improve the performance of the overall network and reduce the total number of parameters used. We tested this approach with different deep neural network architectures including: deep neural networks, convolutional neural networks and unfolded recurrent convolutional networks. We confirmed the effectiveness of this approach on the CHiME3 dataset.
Dynamics of thermochemical plumes: 1. Plume formation and entrainment of a dense layer

Density variations due to changes in bulk chemistry in the lowermost mantle play an important role in the dynamics and chemistry of plumes. In this study we perform a series of high‐resolution numerical experiments in an axisymmetric spherical shell to systematically investigate the formation of plumes from a thermochemical boundary layer and the entrainment of the dense material by plumes. In particular, we investigate the effects of the temperature dependence of viscosity, the chemical density contrast, and thickness of the compositionally distinct layer. Our results show that all three factors influence the nature of plume formation and entrainment of dense material. The complexity of the evolution of the plumes and of the entrainment process increases profoundly with increasing viscosity contrast. The entrainment commonly becomes a transient process for models with variable viscosity. It is generally stronger in the isoviscous models, but the development of plumes is easier in the models with variable viscosity, which is mainly determined by the mechanical coupling between the dense material and the surrounding mantle. Our model results indicate that the compositionally distinct region in D″ can survive in the Earth's history if the intrinsic density contrast of the compositionally distinct layer is greater than about 2%. We also present a series of benchmark tests for thermochemical convection problems in an axisymmetric spherical shell. Our tests indicate that high‐resolution models are necessary for the thermochemical convection systems in which strongly temperature‐dependent viscosity is considered.
Energy-Efficient Task Scheduling and Task Energy Consumption Analysis for Real-Time Embedded Systems

As the limitations of energy consumption for real-time embedded systems more strict, it has been difficult to ignore the context switch overhead for Fixed-Priority task with Preemption scheduling (FPP) in multitasking environment. This paper presents a Reducing Context Switches scheduling (RCSS) based on preemption thresholds scheduling for real-time embedded system to decrease system energy consumption. The WCRT model is improved based on considering context switch overhead. In addition, the tasks energy consumption is analyzed. The experimental results show that RCSS can reduce context switches about 9.051&permil; and decrease energy consumption about 6.129&permil; for given tasks compared to FPP.
Object Phobia and Altered RhoA Signaling in Amygdala of Mice Lacking RICH2

RICH2 knockout (RICH2 KO) mice exhibit neophobia in the novel object test. To gain further insight into their anxiety-related phenotype, we subjected these mice to additional behavioral tests to elucidate whether the behavioral abnormality in these mice is a consequence of reduced exploratory motivation, and whether the neophobia is linked specifically to objects or also present for other modalities. RICH2 KO mice engage in normal exploration in a novel environment, suggesting that the anxiety-related phenotype is not due to reduced exploratory drive. Increased fear response was not observed using novel olfactory cues, but restricted to objects. Given that the amygdala is an important brain region mediating anxiety-related behaviors and a prime target for anxiety-related therapeutics, and RICH2 is a Rho-GTPase activating protein (GAP) regulating synaptic spine plasticity via small GTPases, we analyzed spine formation, morphology and receptor composition in amygdala. We found disinhibition of RhoA in the amygdala of RICH2 KO mice, along with a decreased ability for actin polymerization and a reduction in mature spines. However, we detected increased neuronal activation in the amygdala evidenced by c-fos labeling. Thus, we conclude that despite unaltered baseline activity, RICH2 KO mice show heightened amygdala response after exposure to objects, which, however, does not result in homeostatic strengthening of excitatory synapses.
Template CoMFA Generates Single 3D-QSAR Models that, for Twelve of Twelve Biological Targets, Predict All ChEMBL-Tabulated Affinities

The possible applicability of the new template CoMFA methodology to the prediction of unknown biological affinities was explored. For twelve selected targets, all ChEMBL binding affinities were used as training and/or prediction sets, making these 3D-QSAR models the most structurally diverse and among the largest ever. For six of the targets, X-ray crystallographic structures provided the aligned templates required as input (BACE, cdk1, chk2, carbonic anhydrase-II, factor Xa, PTP1B). For all targets including the other six (hERG, cyp3A4 binding, endocrine receptor, COX2, D2, and GABAa), six modeling protocols applied to only three familiar ligands provided six alternate sets of aligned templates. The statistical qualities of the six or seven models thus resulting for each individual target were remarkably similar. Also, perhaps unexpectedly, the standard deviations of the errors of cross-validation predictions accompanying model derivations were indistinguishable from the standard deviations of the errors of truly prospective predictions. These standard deviations of prediction ranged from 0.70 to 1.14 log units and averaged 0.89 (8x in concentration units) over the twelve targets, representing an average reduction of almost 50% in uncertainty, compared to the null hypothesis of “predicting” an unknown affinity to be the average of known affinities. These errors of prediction are similar to those from Tanimoto coefficients of fragment occurrence frequencies, the predominant approach to side effect prediction, which template CoMFA can augment by identifying additional active structural classes, by improving Tanimoto-only predictions, by yielding quantitative predictions of potency, and by providing interpretable guidance for avoiding or enhancing any specific target response.
Ultrastructural characterization of Acarispora falculifera n.gen., n.sp., a new microsporidium (Opisthokonta: Chytridiopsida) from the feather mite Falculifer rostratus (Astigmata: Pterolichoidea)

Only about 20 species of microsporidia have been described from mites. All except one species produce typical spores with a long polar filament and a polaroplast. This paper is the first study of an atypical microsporidium infection in a feather mite (Falculifer rostratus). The infection of the pigeon feather mite is restricted to the colon epithelium where it leads to hypertrophy of the concerned cells. During sporogony, a multinucleate plasmodial aggregate is formed within a sporont (endogenous sporogony resulting in a polysporophorous vesicle). The cisterns delimiting the single sporoblasts later form the spore walls. Sporogonial stages are in direct contact to the host cell cytoplasm. Merogonial stages were not present. Spores are tiny (3.6 μm × 2.6 μm), broad oval in form and monokaryotic. The spore wall of mature spores consists of a three-layered endospore and a thin, electron-dense, wavy exospore. The polar filament is anisofilar and completely coiled in 3–4 turns. In cross-sections, it has a star-like appearance because the electron-dense core forms rounded compartments of lucent material at its surface. In superficial sections, this results in a honeycomb-like pattern. A polaroplast is missing. The polar filament arises subapically at a polar sac that lacks an internal anchoring disk. These atypical spore structures clearly classify the species from the feather mite as a member of the order Chytridiopsida. It could not be clearly affiliated to one of the known genera, so we created a new genus, Acarispora, with the species A. falculifera.
On-chip quantum teleportation

Integrated quantum optics provides great promise for enabling photonic experiments to reach new regimes of complexity. Chip-based fabrication enables sophisticated networks involving multiple interfering pathways in a compact and stable physical architecture. In a recent work we demonstrated an advance in the complexity of these integrated devices by showing the first quantum interference of three separate input photons. Such complexity allows the demonstration of three qubit protocols never before realised on-chip. Here, we report the first results showing quantum teleportation on an integrated photonic circuit. Quantum teleportation provides the mechanism for quantum relay schemes and is an important constituent in linear optical quantum computing. Whilst demonstrations to date have relied upon complex and fragile bulk optical systems, being able to teleport quantum states on a compact and stable integrated architecture will be a critical step towards scalable realisations of these schemes.
Stretchable, Wearable Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A stretchable, wearable dye-sensitized solar-cell textile is developed from elastic, electrically conducting fiber as a counter electrode and spring-like titanium wire as the working electrode. Dyesensitized solar cells are demonstrated with energy-conversion efficiencies up to 7.13%. The high energy-conversion efficiencies can be well maintained under stretch by 30% and after stretch for 20 cycles.
The effects of social structure and sex-biased transmission on macroparasite infection

SUMMARY Mathematical models of disease dynamics tend to assume that individuals within a population mix at random and so transmission is random, and yet, in reality social structure creates heterogeneous contact patterns. We investigated the effect of heterogeneity in host contact patterns on potential macroparasite transmission by first quantifying the level of assortativity in a socially structured wild rodent population (Apodemus flavicollis) with respect to the directly-transmitted macroparasitic helminth, Heligmosomoides polygyrus. We found the population to be disassortatively mixed (i.e. male mice mixing with female mice more often than same sex mixing) at a constant level over time. The macroparasite H. polygyrus has previously been shown to exhibit male-biased transmission so we used a Susceptible-Infected (SI) mathematical model to simulate the effect of increasing strengths of male-biased transmission on the prevalence of the macroparasite using empirically-derived transmission networks. When transmission was equal between the sexes the model predicted macroparasite prevalence to be 73% and infection was male biased (82% of infection in the male mice). With a male-bias in transmission ten times that of the females, the expected macroparasite prevalence was 50% and was equally prevalent in both sexes, results that both most closely resembled empirical dynamics. As such, disassortative mixing alone did not produce macroparasite dynamics analogous to those from empirical observations; a strong male-bias in transmission was also required. We discuss the relevance of our results in the context of network models for transmission dynamics and control.
Temporal diffusion spectroscopy: Theory and implementation in restricted systems using oscillating gradients

The theory of temporal diffusion spectra is reviewed. In contrast to q‐space spectroscopy, which measures the displacement spectrum of spins in a spatial domain, the spectral density of the velocity correlation function (VCF) in the temporal domain is considered. It is demonstrated that casting diffusion in this domain may facilitate measurements of microscopic geometry and the decomposition of the diffusion signal into components due to disperse flow and restricted diffusion. An oscillating gradient (OG) method of diffusion spectroscopy was developed and implemented. Microscopic pore sizes, surface‐to‐volume ratios (S/Vs), and diffusion path tortuosities were extracted from model systems using this method. Cases are discussed in which this type of experiment may allow the characterization of pore geometry when spatial domain experiments fail. OGs may be combined with imaging sequences to map complex patterns of diffusion and flow. Moreover, scalar apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements in complex biological systems may be subtly dependent on specific pulse sequence parameters. Thus, scalar ADC measurements using gradient pulses with different frequency spectra may give different results. Conversely, the frequency dependence of motion‐sensitizing gradient pulses may be exploited to deduce the origin of ADC changes. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hierarchical clustering analysis framework of mutually exclusive crash causation parameters for regional road safety strategies

ABSTRACT Hierarchical clustering analysis framework is developed to identify benchmark and critical regions for effective road safety strategies. The regions are grouped based on agglomeration coefficient of mutually exclusive crash causation parameters. Subsequently, regions from groups with lower than a threshold index value are selected as benchmark for the poorly performing critical counterparts. Euclidean distance-based Ward's, median and centroid clustering techniques are explored through a case study of Indian states and Union Territories. As per data between 2006 and 2015, fatal crash percentages of driving under influence of drug and alcohol, excessive speeding, vehicle malfunction and road conditions related crash causation parameters, severity index and its growth rate are assessed based on respective threshold values of 6.35%, 43.28%, 2.42%, 1.79%, 26.7 and 3.1%. These are the national average of respective indices. It demonstrated the unique application of hierarchical clustering analysis in benchmark and critical region identification.
Changing ward atmosphere through staff discussion of the perceived ward environment.

The paper describes an attempt to change the treatment environments of a psychiatric ward in a direction more consonant with the stated preferences of the staff. The Ward Atmosphere Scale (WAS), which measures ten dimensions of ward cultures, eg, Affiliation, Insight, Aggression, Clarity, and Autonomy, was used to assess the treatment environment. Patients and staff described the ward as it was (real ward) and staff also described their conceptions of an ideal ward. The results were discussed in detail with staff in change-oriented feedback sessions. Retesting indicated that there were significant changes in ward environment and that both patients and staff perceived the ward as being closer to the staff's conception of an ideal ward after feedback. Systematic feedback about how patients and staff perceived the ward environment directly facilitated staff attempts geared toward changing various aspects of the ward culture.
Lay Information Provision in Community Settings: How Community Health Nurses Disseminate Human Services Information to the Elderly

In this ethnographic study, Mark Granovetter's theory of the strength of weak ties was used to investigate the flow of human services information (HSI) among nurses and the elderly at neighborhood foot clinics. Analysis of observation and interview data revealed that nurses were, indeed, bridging weak ties-who played an important role in linking seniors with local services, because they provided HSI in a caring manner that seniors associated with strong ties. Although nurses were not always aware of their HSI-giving role and referral behavior, they used various techniques to identify seniors' needs and often used strategies to persuade clients to use their information. Among other findings were "missed opportunities" and affective aspects of information giving. Seniors reported using HSI in ways that differed from what nurses intended, which suggests that information helps in indirect ways. Overall, the clinic setting was identified as a rich information ground that fosters the informal sharing of HSI among all participants through social interaction. The study's novel approach and findings may be applicable to other situations regarding information behavior among clients and professionals.
Exploring User Perceptions of Discrimination in Online Targeted Advertising

Targeted online advertising now accounts for the largest share of the advertising market, beating out both TV and print ads. While targeted advertising can improve users’ online shopping experiences, it can also have negative e ﬀ ects. A plethora of recent work has found evidence that in some cases, ads may be discriminatory, leading certain groups of users to see better o ﬀ ers (e.g., job ads) based on personal characteristics such as gender. To develop policies around advertising and guide advertisers in making ethical decisions, one thing we must better understand is what concerns users and why. In an e ﬀ ort to answer this question, we conducted a pilot study and a multi-step main survey (n = 2,086 in total) presenting users with different discriminatory advertising scenarios. We ﬁnd that overall, 44% of respondents were moderately or very concerned by the scenarios we presented. Respondents found the scenarios signiﬁcantly more problematic when discrimination took place as a result of explicit demographic targeting rather than in response to online behavior. However, our respondents’ opinions did not vary based on whether a human or an algorithm was responsible for the discrimination. These ﬁndings suggest that future policy documents should explicitly address discrimination in targeted advertising, no matter its origin, as a signiﬁcant user concern, and that corporate responses that blame the algorithmic nature of the ad ecosystem may not be helpful for addressing public concerns.
Maximizing Network Utilization with Max-Min Fairness in Wireless Sensor Networks

The state of the art for optimal data-gathering in wireless sensor networks is to use additive increase algorithms to achieve fair rate allocation while implicity trying to maximize network utilization. We explicitly formulate the problem of maximizing the network utilization subject to a max-min fair rate allocation constraint in the form of two coupled linear programs. We first show how the max-min rate can be computed efficiently for a given network. We then adopt a dual-based approach to maximize the network utilization. The analysis of the dual shows the sub-optimality of previously proposed additive increase algorithms with respect to bandwidth efficiency. Although in theory a dual-based sub-gradient search algorithm can take a long time to converge, we find empirically that setting shadow prices to 1 results in near-optimal solutions within one iteration (within 2% of the optimum in 99.65% of the cases). This results in a fast heuristic distributed algorithm that has a nice intuitive explanation - rates are allocated sequentially after rank ordering flows based on the number of downstream receivers whose bandwidth they consume.