Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Custom Measurement of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Using STRATUS OCT in Normal Eyes

Purpose To evaluate variability of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements in normal eyes and their correlation with optic disc diameter by using two different scan options of the ultimate commercial optical coherence tomography (OCT) unit (STRATUS OCT™, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA). Methods In this observational case series and instrument validation study 30 eyes of 30 normal subjects were enrolled. Each eye underwent optic disc vertical diameter measurement by means of both stereoscopic photography and planimetry and OCT; RNFL thickness measurements were performed using OCT. Three repetitions of two series of scans were performed. Each eye was scanned at two different options (RNFL thickness 3.4 and Nerve Head Circle). For each option descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and coefficients of variation (COVs) were calculated. To verify the correlation between the two methods of optic disc diameter assessment and to study the influence of optic disc diameter on RNFL measurement using the two different OCT options, Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated. Results Optic disc diameter length ranged from 1.47 to 2.04 mm (mean 1.709 mm, SD ± 0.147) with stereoscopic photographs, and from 1.47 to 2.02 mm (mean 1.703 mm, SD ± 0.143) with OCT (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.999, p<0.001). Mean RNFL thickness was 89.29 mm (SD ± 10.80 mm) using the RNFL thickness 3.4 scanning option and 89.88 mm (SD ±1.72 mm) using the Nerve Head Circle protocol (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.065, p=0.734). The intersubject variance is higher using the RNFL thickness 3.4 option than using the NHC protocol (sum of square: 10147,60 vs. 257,41) (p<0.001); the intrasubject variance is very similar in the two groups (23,72 vs 23,60) (p=NS). The ICC is 99.89% when using the RNFL thickness 3.4 option, 95.62% with the NHC protocol (p=NS). COVs were 12.10% and 1.91 % by using RNFL thickness 3.4 and Nerve Head Circle option, respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.988 (p<0.001) when comparing optic disc diameter and RNFL thickness by using the RNFL thickness 3.4 option and −0.016 (p=0.932) when comparing optic disc diameter and RNFL thickness by using the Nerve Head Circle option. Conclusions These results suggest that both scan options give good RNFL thickness measurement reproducibility; the use of the Nerve Head Circle option leads to less interindividual variability and can minimize the effect of differences in optic disc diameter on RNFL thickness measurements in normal subjects.
Surface height change estimation method using band-divided coherence function with full polarimetric SAR images

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is one of the most powerful tools for microwave imaging issue, being applicable to terrain surface measurement regardless of the weather conditions. Recently, the coherent change detection (CCD) method has been widely developed aiming at surface change detection by comparing the plural complex SAR images with the same scanning orbit. However, in the case of a general damage assessment by an earthquake or a mudslide, it requires not only a change detection but also a height change quantity of changed surface. To address with this issue, this paper proposes a novel height change estimation method with a CCD model based on the Pauli decomposition of fully polarimetric band-divided SAR images. The experimental results, assuming the 1/100 scale down model of the X-band SAR system in anechoic chamber, show that the proposed method achieves more accurate height change estimation, compared with those obtained by the method using single polarimetric data.
System-level simulation platform with interference avoidance for Device-to-Device communication underlaying cellular system

Device-to-Device (D2D) communication is the technology enabling user equipment (UE) to directly communicate with each other without help of evolved nodeB (eNB) which caters to the demand for high spectrum efficiency. This work focuses on the hybrid network which contains multiple Cellular UEs and D2D UEs. D2D communication shares up-link resource with cellular system and improves the performance of the entire network. However, by introducing D2D communication into cellular systems, the mutual interference between D2D links and cellular links may be severe. We accordingly develop a system-level simulation platform based on interference avoidance scheme. It provides a tool to observe the interference and analyse the performance of hybrid network. The simulation results prove that the coexistence of the cellular and D2D links will bring obvious contribution to the sum capacity of hybrid network.
Integrating Technology into Teacher Candidates’ Field Experiences

Abstract This paper reports on a “two-pronged” approach to restructuring teacher candidates'field experiences to support the integration of technology. It describes challenges in bringing about change to the entire field placement system, while also focusing on concentrated efforts to work with a subset of student teachers placed with technology-using cooperating teachers at designated partner school. Several ongoing initiatives are described that address systemic changes in the process. Included is information on efforts to create request options for teacher candidates, revise student handbooks, address the development of field supervisors, and provide alternative models for student’s field experiences. The article concludes with a discussion of outcomes obtained thus far and future directions that we envision for our program.
Tunable wideband microwave band-stop and band-pass filters using YIG/GGG-GaAs layer structures

Magnetically tunable wideband microwave bandstop and bandpass filters using ferromagnetic resonance absorption in yttrium iron garnet/gadolinium gallium garnet-gallium arsenide (YIG/GGG-GaAs) layer structures are reported. The measured characteristics of the bandstop filter, with nonuniform bias magnetic field distribution along the YIG/GGG film, shows a large absorption bandwidth of 1900 MHz at the stopband center frequency of 11.0 GHz, average peak absorption of 13 dB, and an out-of-stopband insertion loss of 1.5 dB. The measured characteristics of the bandpass filter at the passband center frequency of 7.1 GHz demonstrates a 3-dB bandwidth of 1450 MHz, out-of-band rejection of 33 dB, and an insertion loss of 1.5 dB. A good agreement between the experimental results and the simulation results based on a lumped element equivalent circuit modeling of YIG bandstop filters has been achieved.
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Function in Cardiomyopathic Mice by Tissue Doppler and Color M‐Mode Doppler Echocardiography

Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and color M‐mode Doppler flow propagation velocity (Vp) are used to assess cardiac function in humans, but the feasibility and applicability of these measurements to murine cardiomyopathic models of heart failure remain unclear. Left ventricular (LV) function was measured by TDI and Vp among mice exhibiting severe dilated cardiomyopathy (TOT), pressure‐overload hypertrophy (TAC), and normal controls (NTG). Transmitral flow pattern in TACs and TOTs showed a restrictive filling pattern, but early diastolic mitral annulus velocity was comparable among the three studied groups. Propagation velocity in an anesthetized state was comparable in all three groups. However, while Vp increased in all three groups in the conscious state, the increase in NTGs was statistically greater than in TACs and TOTs. Collectively, results indicate that color M‐mode Doppler echocardiography can be used to assess LV function in mice. Furthermore, Vp is depressed by anesthesia, a complication that can lead to misinterpretation of LV function in normal hearts.
Lymphatic Vessels: Pressure‐ and Flow‐dependent Regulatory Reactions

This chapter discusses the current status of knowledge on basic pressure/stretch– and flow/shear–dependent regulatory reactions of contracting lymphangions in lymphatic vessels. The balance of passive and active lymph pumps is discussed; the data on pressure measurements in different lymphatic nets of several species are provided. The characteristics of typical changes in lymphatic contractility to the increases in transmural pressures are described and discussed, as is the role of pre‐existing distension in initiation of lymphatic contractions. The up‐to‐date status of knowledge on flow‐dependent adaptive reactions of contracting lymphangions is provided with detailed characterization of the influences of imposed and contraction‐generated flows on lymphatic contractility. The interaction between extrinsic and intrinsic flows in regulation of lymphatic contractility is considered.
Autophagy proteins LC3B, ATG5 and ATG12 participate in quality control after mitochondrial damage and influence lifespan

Mitochondrial health is maintained by the quality control mechanisms of mitochondrial dynamics (fission and fusion) and mitophagy. Decline of these processes is thought to contribute to aging and neurodegenerative diseases. To investigate the role of mitochondrial quality control in aging on the cellular level, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were subjected to mitochondria-targeted damage by combining staining of mitochondria and irradiation. This treatment induced a short boost of reactive oxygen species, which resulted in transient fragmentation of mitochondria followed by mitophagy, while mitochondrial dynamics were impaired. Furthermore, targeted mitochondrial damage upregulated autophagy factors LC3B, ATG5 and ATG12. Consequently these proteins were overexpressed in HUVEC as an in vitro aging model, which significantly enhanced the replicative life span up to 150% and the number of population doublings up to 200%, whereas overexpression of LAMP-1 did not alter the life span. Overexpression of LC3B, ATG5 and ATG12 resulted in an improved mitochondrial membrane potential, enhanced ATP production and generated anti-apoptotic effects, while ROS levels remained unchanged and the amount of oxidized proteins increased. Taken together, these data relate LC3B, ATG5 and ATG12 to mitochondrial quality control after oxidative damage, and to cellular longevity.
Molecular structures in biopolymers sols and gels

The short range molecular structure of agarose in the sol state and κ-carrageenans in the gel state have been investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (0.1<Q(NM -1 )<2.5). Agarose in the sol state possesses a rod-like conformation (minimum persistence length of 14 nm) with a mass per unit length consistent with a single helix. The existence of a double helix in the gel state is accordingly questioned. Agarose in sols from DMSO/WATER blends still exhibits the same rigidity yet the mass per unit length varies with solvent composition. It is surmised that this arises from strong complexation of agarose by DMSO which has consequences on the gelation propensity. Results obtained with κ-carrageenans gels are accounted for by an array of rigid rods consisting of two populations of differing cross-sectional radius
A design method for manipulator control based on disturbance observer

Recent requirements for fast and accurate motion in industrial robot manipulators demand more advanced control techniques. For these requirements, many manipulator control methods have been developed. One of them is a manipulator control based on the disturbance observer. The disturbance observer estimates the disturbance torque (force) using a nominal model and compensates for the parameter variations between the real manipulator and the nominal model. Because of the high performance and simple algorithm, its usefulness for real time control the disturbance observer has recently been employed for manipulator control. This paper analyzes a manipulator control based on the disturbance observer. From this analysis, we also propose a design method of the manipulator control based on the disturbance observer. Finally, we present experimental results from an implementation of the proposed method. <<ETX>>
Off-Policy Actor-Critic Structure for Optimal Control of Unknown Systems With Disturbances

An optimal control method is developed for unknown continuous-time systems with unknown disturbances in this paper. The integral reinforcement learning (IRL) algorithm is presented to obtain the iterative control. Off-policy learning is used to allow the dynamics to be completely unknown. Neural networks are used to construct critic and action networks. It is shown that if there are unknown disturbances, off-policy IRL may not converge or may be biased. For reducing the influence of unknown disturbances, a disturbances compensation controller is added. It is proven that the weight errors are uniformly ultimately bounded based on Lyapunov techniques. Convergence of the Hamiltonian function is also proven. The simulation study demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed optimal control method for unknown systems with disturbances.
PENGARUH PENGENAAN SANKSI ADMINISTRASI DAN KESADARAN WAJIB PAJAK TERHADAP TINGKAT KEPATUHAN WAJIB PAJAK KENDARAAN BERMOTOR (Studi pada Kantor Samsat Kabupaten Bengkalis Riau)

This study aims to determine the effect of imposition of administrative sanctions and taxpayer awareness of the Taxpayer Compliance Level of Motor Vehicles (Study in Samsat Office Bengkalis Riau). This type of research used in this research is quantitative descriptive quantitative approach. Secondary data used in this study using data collection techniques of documentation, analysis in this study used multiple linear regression analysis. Results of thes study stated that simultaneous variabel administrative sanctions and consciousness Taxpayer significantly affect Taxpayer Compliance. Their influence of a positive relationship which means that if the sub variable administrative sanctions and awareness taxpayer simultaneously ride will be followed by a rise Taxpayer Compliance. Keywords: Motor Vehicle Tax, Imposition of Administrative Sanctions, Consciousness Taxpayer and Taxpayer Compliance ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui Pengaruh Pengenaan Sanksi Administrasi dan Kesadaran Wajib Pajak terhadap Tingkat Kepatuhan Wajib Pajak Kendaraan Bermotor (Studi di Kantor Samsat Kabupaten Bengkalis Riau). Jenis penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif dengan pendekatan kuantitatif deskriptif. Data sekunder digunakan dalam penelitian ini dengan menggunakan teknik pengumpulan data dokumentasi. Analisis dalam penelitian ini menggunakan analisis regresi linier berganda. Hasil dari penelitian ini menyatakan bahwa secara simultan variabel Sanksi Administrasi dan Kesadaran Wajib Pajak berpengaruh secara nyata terhadap Kepatuhan Wajib Pajak. Adanya Pengaruh hubungan yang positif yang berarti apabila sub variabel Sanksi Administrasi dan Kesadaran Wajib Pajak secara simultan naik maka akan diikuti oleh kenaikan Kepatuhan Wajib Pajak. Kata kunci : Pajak Kendaraan Bermotor, Pengenaan Sanksi Administrasi, Kesadaran Wajib Pajak, dan Kepatuhan Wajib Pajak
The composite index of leading economic indicators: A comparison of approaches

I compare the real-time recession predicting performance of the Conference Board Leading Index, the Stock and Watson Leading Index, and the yield curve in the period since 1988. I first calculate the real-time probability of recession for the yield curve and Conference Board Leading Index using a simple non-linear regime-switching model. I then compare these estimates to the probability of recession published by Stock and Watson. The Conference Board Leading Index gave the strongest signal of recession in the six months prior to the 1990–1991 recession and gave no false signals in the 1990s. The Stock and Watson Leading Index failed to give recession signals in the first half of 1990 and the yield curve may have given a false signal in early 1999. The results show that the traditional leading index is still a useful tool for monitoring the ebb and flow of regional and national economies.
Mucosal and systemic immunizations with killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa protect against acute respiratory infection in rats

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacies of prior mucosal (oral, intra-Peyer's patch, or intratracheal) and systemic (subcutaneous) immunizations with killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa in clearance of an acute P. aeruginosa respiratory infection in rats. Rats were immunized with paraformaldehyde-killed P. aeruginosa at various doses, and 2 weeks later, the rats were challenged with a log10 dose of 8.7 live bacteria. This dose was fatal for unimmunized rats, with death occurring approximately 12 h after challenge. The numbers of surviving bacteria in the airways and lung tissue were determined by analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and lung homogenate samples, respectively. Enhanced bacterial clearance was associated with survival of intra-Peyer's patch-immunized rats. Determination of bacterial clearance in BAL 4 h after challenge demonstrated that the use of all immunization routes led to significant clearance compared with the bacterial levels in unimmunized controls (the order of effectiveness was intra-Peyer's patch > oral-intratracheal > intratracheal > subcutaneous > oral). Bacterial clearance in the lung homogenate was also significantly greater for all immunization routes than in the unimmunized controls (the order of effectiveness was intra-Peyer's patch > subcutaneous > oral-intratracheal > oral = intratracheal). Prior oral immunization with killed P. aeruginosa also induced enhanced bacterial clearance of heterologous strains of P. aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, and to a lesser extent, Klebsiella pneumoniae. Because of the ease of antigen delivery, oral immunization with killed P. aeruginosa may be an important route of immunization for induction of enhanced bacterial clearance of subsequent acute respiratory infection with P. aeruginosa and other gram-negative bacteria.
Identity Recognition through Human Gaze Tracking

The paper describes a system for the human machine interaction that is able to identify users according how she looks at the monitor while using a given interface. The system does not need invasive measurements that could limit the naturalness of her actions and detects the eyes movement from the estimation provided by a kinect camera. The proposed approach clusters the sequences of user gaze on the screen characterizing the user identity according the particular pattern his/her gaze follows. The possibility of identify people through gaze movement introduces a new perspective on human-machine interaction. For example, a user can obtain different contents according his recorded preferences and a software can modify its interface to meet the preferences of a given user.
Design Innovativeness and Product Sales' Evolution

In the last decade, design innovation has gained increasing prominence in the marketplace, with a growing number of firms innovating not only through technology but also through novel product forms i.e., design. However, while the effect of technological innovation on product sales is a heavily studied topic, a defining theory of how design innovation influences product sales is still missing. This paper provides demand-and supply-side theories to formulate a set of coherent hypotheses about the effect of design innovativeness, i.e., the degree of novelty in a product's design, on sales' evolution over time. The hypotheses are tested in two different samples. In the first, car models introduced in the United States from 1978 to 2006 for a total of 2,757 model-year data are analyzed. In the second, motorcycle models introduced in the United States from 1980 to 2008 for a total of 2,847 model-year observations are analyzed. I find that design innovativeness diminishes initial sales' status but increases sales' growth rates. Furthermore, design and technological innovativeness have a negative interaction effect on sales' initial status, but a positive effect on sales' growth rates. Finally, brand strength and brand advertising expenditures worsen the negative effect of design innovativeness on initial sales' status, but boost its positive effect on sales' growth rates.
Time‐ and temperature‐dependent migration studies of Irganox 1076 from plastics into foods and food simulants

The study provides an exhaustive set of migration data for octadecyl 3‐(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)propionate (Irganox 1076) from low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) in several food matrices. Irganox 1076 was used as a model migrant because it represents one of the typical substances used as an antioxidant in food packaging polymers. Kinetic (time‐dependent) migration studies of Irganox 1076 were performed for selected foodstuffs chosen with different physical–chemical properties and in relation to the actual European food consumption market. The effect of fat content and of the temperature of storage on the migration from plastic packaging was evaluated. The results show that migration increased with fat content and storage temperature. All data obtained from real foods were also compared with data obtained from simulants tested in the same conditions. In all studied cases, the kinetics in simulants were higher than those in foodstuffs. The work provides data valuable for the extension of the validation of migration model developed on simulants to foodstuffs themselves.
Ologen Implant Application in Subscleral Trabeculectomy versus Non-Penetrating Deep Sclerectomy in Management of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: A Prospective Randomized Study

Background: trabeculectomy and deep sclerectomy (DS) aim to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in cases of medically uncontrolled primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). The application of Ologen implant is thought to increase the success rate of both procedures. Objective: to compare the application of Ologen implant in trabeculectomy versus deep sclerectomy in patients with uncontrolled POAG. Patients and Methods: this was a follow-up randomized clinical comparative trial included 30 eyes of 26 patients with uncontrolled POAG. They were randomly assigned to two equal groups (n=15 eyes): group (A) underwent trabeculectomy and group (B) underwent deep sclerectomy. Both procedures were augmented with Ologen implant. All patients were subjected to full history taking and complete ophthalmologic examination. Postoperatively, patients were followed up at 6 months. Outcome and complications were assessed. Results: both groups experienced significant reduction in IOP after 6 months postoperative; preoperative and postoperative values were 22.8±3.73 mmHg and 11.07±2.63 mmHg, respectively in group (A) and 20.13±2.26 mmHg and 13.53±2.61 mmHg, respectively in group B, P≤ 0.01. The complete success was 93.0% in group (A) and 80.0% in group (B), (P= 0.475). Group (A) had significantly higher frequency of postoperative complications compared to group B (P≤ 0.01). Conclusion: the application of Ologen implant in both trabeculectomy and deep sclerectomy is effective for IOP reduction and it resulted in better operative success in patients with POAG. Also, deep sclerectomy using Ologen implant is a good and safe alternative to trabeculectomy in patients with POAG, but our obtained results need to be supported by subsequent studies.