Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
1D-4 High Speed Imaging of Bubble Clouds in Pulsed Cavitational Ultrasound Therapy - Histotripsy

Our investigations have shown that short (les50 musec) high intensity, low duty cycle ultrasound pulses can achieve significant breakdown of tissue structure at a tissue-fluid interface and in bulk soft tissue. We call this technique "histotripsy", and inertial cavitation is its hypothesized mechanism. To understand the physical basis of histotripsy, a high speed camera was used to image hypothesized bubble clouds generated by ultrasound pulses. The results show the following: (1) Ultrasound pulses generated a bubble cloud both at a tissue-water interface and inside a gel used to mimic the bulk soft tissue. This bubble cloud plays an important role in the histotripsy process; (2) An ultrasound pulse of several musec long can generate a bubble cloud lasting for several hundreds of musec; and (3) the intensity threshold to initiate a bubble cloud is lower at a gel-water interface than inside a gel
Multi-Positive and Unlabeled Learning

The positive and unlabeled (PU) learning problem focuses on learning a classifier from positive and unlabeled data. Some methods have been developed to solve the PU learning problem. However, they are often limited in practical applications, since only binary classes are involved and cannot easily be adapted to multi-class data. Here we propose a one-step method that directly enables multi-class model to be trained using the given input multi-class data and that predicts the label based on the model decision. Specifically, we construct different convex loss functions for labeled and unlabeled data to learn a discriminant function F. The theoretical analysis on the generalization error bound shows that it is no worse than k√k times of the fully supervised multi-class classification methods when the size of the data in k classes is of the same order. Finally, our experimental results demonstrate the significance and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in synthetic and real-world datasets.
A spatial and spectral detection approach for primary user interference mitigation in cognitive radios

The objective of cognitive radio (CR) is to allow utilization of unused frequency bands allocated to Primary Users (PUs) by Secondary Users (SUs) while maintaining negligible interference to PUs. This paper proposes a method for interference avoidance to PUs by combining beamforming based spatial signal processing and compressed sensing technique with Fast Filter Bank based spectral signal processing. Simulation results show that if a frequency band for SU is selected such that it is adjacent to a PU, with the aid of diversity gained from spatial signal processing, the interference by SUs to PUs can be further reduced by at least 20dB.
Galectin-3, a marker of cardiac remodeling, is inversely related to serum levels of marine omega-3 fatty acids. A cross-sectional study

Objective Marine polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) may have cardioprotective effects and beneficial influence on the fibrotic process. We evaluated the associations between serum marine n-3 PUFA and selected biomarkers of fibrosis and cardiac remodeling in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction. Setting From the ongoing OMega-3 fatty acids in Elderly patients with Myocardial Infarction (OMEMI) trial, 299 patients were investigated. Soluble ST2 (sST2), Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and the serum content of major marine n-3 and n-6 PUFA were analyzed 2–8 weeks after the index acute myocardial infarction. Results Gal-3 was inversely correlated to eicosapentaenoic acid (r = −.120, p = .039) and docosahexaenoic acid (r = −.125, p = .031) and positively correlated to the n-6/n-3 ratio (r = .131, p = .023). Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in diabetics vs non-diabetics (12.00 vs 9.61 ng/mL, p = .007) and in patients with NYHA class ≥III for dyspnea at inclusion (11.33 vs 9.75 ng/mL, p = .006). Conclusions The associations between the marine n-3 PUFA and levels of Gal-3 indicate beneficial effects of n-3 PUFA on cardiac remodeling in an elderly population with acute myocardial infarction.
Characteristics of biodegradable implants

The development of synthetic biomaterials for bone fixations has greatly enhanced orthopedic surgery efficiency over the last two decades. With the advancement in medical technology, several materials such as metals, ceramics, polymers and composites have been considered over the years for possible implantation into the body. These materials however, must have the following required properties that will qualify them as potential medical devices: biocompatibility, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, creep resistance, etc. The quest in making up for the disadvantages of metallic fixations has culminated in a paradigm shift to the use of biodegradable polymers. Biodegradable polymers are light-weight materials with low elastic moduli between 0.4 - 7 GPa. These materials can be engineered to degrade at rates that will slowly transfer load to the bone. In addition, complications like corrosion, release of metal ions and stress shielding associated with metal implants are eliminated. This review considers studies carried out on most commonly investigated and widely used synthetic biodegradable polymers, their successes and limitations. It also provides process for efficient utilization of these polymers as bone fixtures without inflammation and stress shielding.
The Impact of Global Perceived Quality on the Behaviour of Automobile’s Consumers

Purpose of the study: The objective of this work was to identify the perceived quality attributes of car owners and how these attributes affect satisfaction, regret, trust, pride and, word of mouth communication. Methodology / approach: There were two phases (qualitative and quantitative) in this study. In the qualitative phase, we conducted 20 in-depth interviews with car owners, with the purpose of identifying the perceived quality attributes by them. In the quantitative phase, we surveyed 311 owners of automobiles of different brands. For the statistical analysis, we opted to test the hypothetical model through Structural Equations Modeling (SEM). Main results: Results show that perceived quality among automobile consumers is a multidimensional construct (status and power, handling dynamics, corporate responsibility, brand heritage, resale value, durability, internal space, and trunk capacity) and impacts on satisfaction, regret, word of mouth communication, trust, and pride. Theoretical / methodological contributions: This research measures the perception of quality of automobiles in post-purchase situations, exploring not only attributes in service quality but also the product itself while exploring other dimensions from the quality-perception construct. Furthermore, it studied how the perception of quality affects behavioral dimensions beyond the satisfaction construct: regret, reliability, pride, and word-of-mouth communication. Relevance / originality: This work considered both physical attributes (e.g., internal space and trunk capacity) and, intangibles (e.g., Power and Status, Brand and company's tradition) perceived by car owners. Moreover, to investigate the perception of quality in service and product at the same time is not common in consumer behavior literature.
An Approach to Network Level Support for Inter-Cloud Live Migration

Inter-Cloud live migration of virtual machines is beneficial to a number of scenarios to keep communications between and to virtual machines uninterrupted, inter-cloud live migration must rely on support from the network layer to handle the dynamic relocation of virtual machines between different networks. We developed a prototype implementation of these mechanisms for the ViNe virtual network developed at University of Florida. ViNe provided the methods that simplify resource management and deal with connectivity constraints and support legacy applications for distributed systems by enabling global address ability of VN-connected machines through either a common layer 2 Ethernet or a NAT-free layered 3 IP networks. Keywords— ViNe, IPOP, TAP device, ViNe Overlay, HWDT
Teaching Design Thinking in Marketing: Linking Product Design and Marketing Strategy in a Product Development Class

Design thinking refers to the implementation of a firm’s design philosophy into design processes and outputs. This article introduces two design thinking approaches—user-centered design and design-driven innovation—that frame product design activities and show how these approaches can be incorporated into marketing curricula. The aim of this article is to show how marketing educators can help students appreciate and understand the processes and consequences of developing new products using different design thinking approaches. First, an experiment is conducted to examine the effect of design thinking approaches (user-centered design, design-driven innovation) on design and marketing outcomes (perceived originality, perceived usefulness, and perceived value). Second, based on the results of the study, the article develops a step-by-step guide on how to execute a design thinking module in a product-oriented marketing course.
Nano-Structured and Micro-Structured Semiconductors for Higher Efficiency Solar Cells

Hybrid thin-film solar cells are fabricated on the glass substrate using ZnO nanorods, well-aligned single-crystalline Si nanowires (SiNWs), and poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) as well as micro-structured III-V semiconductors . The effect of introducing a solution-processed fullerene as an electron transport layer on the polymer/ZnO nanorod array composite solar cells is investigated . Devices with the fullerene layer exhibit a larger short circuit current density (10.16 mA/cm2) than those without this layer (9.37 mA/cm2). For the Si NWs with P3HT:PCBM, the well-aligned SiNWs are fabricated from Si wafer and transferred onto the glass substrate with the P3HT:PCBM. Such SiNWs provide uninterrupted conduction paths for electron transport, enhancing the optical absorption to serve as an absorber, and increase the surface area for exciton dissociation . Our investigations show that Si NWs are promising for hybrid organic photovoltaic cells with improved performance by increasing the short-circuit current density from 7.17 to 11.61 mA/cm2. III-V semiconductors are also used for thin-film solar cells. InGaP/GaAs two-junction square-based (25 mum times25 mum) cuboid arrays with a height of 6.52 mum were released from GaAs substrates by the epitaxial lift-off process. These InGaP/GaAs cuboid arrays were transplanted to the P3HT film spun on ITO glass substrate. In addition to the significant cost reduction, our method shows the rapid transplantation and the potential for high-efficiency large-area devices fabrication.
EVALUASI DAMPAK TPA METODE OPEN DUMPING

Terus beroperasinya Tempat Pemrosesan Akhir (TPA) sampah di Desa Buluh, Kecamatan Socah, Kabupaten Bangkalan menimbulkan dampak lingkungan dan sosial. Umur teknis TPA hanya mampu beroperasi selama lima tahun, menjadi fokus persoalan tentang manajemen pengolahan sampah. TPA Desa Buluh beroperasi mulai tahun 2005, sampai saat ini terus digunakan menampung sampah. Dipilihnya metode pembuangan terbuka ( open dumping) menjadi penyebab munculnya dampak lingkungan maupun sosial. Open dumping TPA sudah habis umur teknis meningkatkan indikator resiko gagalnya pengolahan sampah. Tujuan penelitian menganalisa dampak open dumping pada TPA habis umur teknis serta mencari hubungan daerah terdampak dengan kebijakan relokasi TPA Desa Buluh, Kecamatan Socah Kabupaten Bangkalan. Metode penelitian kualitatif digunakan untuk menjelaskan dampak tetap digunakannya open dumping pada TPA habis umur teknis. Penelitian ini bersifat deskriptif dengan mencari hubungan antara metode open dumping TPA habis umur teknis dengan rekomendasi kebijakan relokasi TPA Desa Buluh. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terus beroperasinya TPA Desa Buluh sudah habis umur teknis menimblkan berbagai dampak lingkungan baik sosial maupun non-sosial, sehingga perlu diambil kebijakan relokasi TPA ke tempat baru.
Prototype wireless sensor network node for novel asynchronous RF Time-of-flight ranging

Short distance measurement based on RF Time-of-flight (TOF) is difficult because of high sampling clock resolution and wireless synchronization needs. For precise estimation, previous researchers have developed heterogeneous clock systems (HCSs) using Vernier effect of two clocks with different frequencies to measure TOF precisely. Besides, they have performed easier synchronization inside a main node and used a mirror node to return RF signal to the main. Therefore, each node, in general, must be able to change between main and mirror roles. However, role changing is troublesome, thus we propose a new prototype based on a novel asynchronous estimation method with almost similar roles for both ranging nodes. This is made by calculating TOF from the difference of the round trip time and reply time between nodes.
Branded Apps and Their Impact on Firm Value: A Design Perspective

Although firms are increasingly launching branded mobile apps, an understanding of their influence on firm value remains elusive. Using stock market returns to assess firm value, the authors investigate the impact of branded mobile app announcements on such value. Moreover, recognizing that mobile apps generate various touchpoints in the customer journey, the authors also investigate how an app’s design shifts the effects of mobile apps on firm value. In particular, they investigate effects from whether an app emphasizes features related to peer-to-peer interactions about the brand, personal-oriented interactions between a customer and the brand, or the purchase phase itself. They find that the launch of a mobile app increases firm value and that the features emphasized in app design play an important role in such value creation. The study offers important implications regarding the accountability of branded mobile apps and provides direction for marketing theory and practice.
Segmentation of blood clot from CT pulmonary angiographic images using a modified seeded region growing algorithm method

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a medical condition defined as the obstruction of pulmonary arteries by a blood clot, usually originating in the deep veins of the lower limbs. PE is a common but elusive illness that can cause significant disability and death if not promptly diagnosed and effectively treated. CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) is the first line imaging study for the diagnosis of PE. While clinical prediction rules have been recently developed to associate short-term risks and stratify patients with acute PE, there is a dearth of objective biomarkers associated with the long-term prognosis of the disease. Clot (embolus) burden is a promising biomarker for the prognosis and recurrence of PE and can be quantified from CTPA images. However, to our knowledge, no study has reported a method for segmentation and measurement of clot from CTPA images. Thus, the purpose of this study was to develop a semi-automated method for segmentation and measurement of clot from CTPA images. Our method was based on Modified Seeded Region Growing (MSRG) algorithm which consisted of two steps: (1) the observer identifies a clot of interest on CTPA images and places a spherical seed over the clot; and (2) a region grows around the seed on the basis of a rolling-ball process that clusters the neighboring voxels whose CT attenuation values are within the range of the mean ± two standard deviations of the initial seed voxels. The rollingball propagates iteratively until the clot is completely clustered and segmented. Our experimental results revealed that the performance of the MSRG was superior to that of the conventional SRG for segmenting clots, as evidenced by reduced degrees of over- or under-segmentation from adjacent anatomical structures. To assess the clinical value of clot burden for the prognosis of PE, we are currently applying the MSRG for the segmentation and volume measurement of clots from CTPA images that are acquired in a large cohort of patients with PE in an on-going NIH-sponsored clinical trial.
Optimal Retransmission-Based Broadcasting Under Delivery Deadline Constraint

Retransmission-based broadcasting scheme is one of ways for enhancing broadcast reliability. This paper deals with the issue about how much we can improve the broadcast reliability for the deadline-constrained one-hop broadcasting based on the slotted-Aloha with retransmission. The successful delivery probability (SDP) is derived and then the optimal access probability maximizing the SDP is provided. A simple, but sub-optimal access probability, which achieves the SDP close to the optimal value, is also proposed. Further, we find the optimal number of retransmissions maximizing the SDP while satisfying a given throughput requirement.
Improved Method for Frequency Estimation of Sampled Sinusoidal Signals Without Iteration

This paper presents a method for estimating the signal frequency of sampled sinusoidal signals, which does not require any iteration for the frequency search. A noniterative method of frequency estimation was already developed by Zhang , where an analytical expression for the signal frequency is obtained using the differences between the neighboring input data. However, this method is very susceptible to additive noise. This paper extends the algorithm of Zhang to maintain the same signal-to-noise ratio as with the traditional four-parameter estimation method that requires iterations for the signal frequency search. Unfortunately, the proposed method is unable to estimate the accurate frequency in the case of an infinite number of data points when noises are added to the signal. From a noise analysis, it was found that the average frequency estimation error becomes zero when using a (2/3)π phase interval to calculate the signal difference. Numerical simulation results show that the frequency estimation error when Gaussian noise is added to the input data is about 13% higher than the square root of the Cramer-Rao bound. An additional 6% error is also added when the phase interval for frequency estimation deviates 10% from (2/3)π . Furthermore, it was found that the effect of harmonic components on the frequency estimation error can be minimized when the phase interval is close to (2/3)π, and the total number of data sample covers several signal periods or truncated close to an integer multiple of the signal period. As a result, the frequency estimation with the proposed method is more than 40 times more accurate than that with the IEEE-1057 method when the harmonic components are added to the input signal, which is confirmed by numerical simulations.
Differential Expression of the OmpF and OmpC Porin Proteins in Escherichia coli K-12 Depends upon the Level of Active OmpR

ABSTRACT We have generated a mutant form of the OmpR regulatory protein, OmpRD55E, that is active independent of the EnvZ kinase. Notably, the pattern of OmpF and OmpC expression can be altered simply by changing the level of this mutant protein in the cell. This result supports a key prediction of the current model of porin regulation, which states that the differential regulation of OmpF and OmpC is a direct consequence of the cellular level of the active form of OmpR.
Prediction of ligand binding sites in RNA binding protein pockets using Support Vector Machines

RNA-binding proteins play a significant role in pattern regulation of gene expression during developmental phases. Therefore in order to facilitate our understanding of organism development there is a continuous need to develop an extensive apriori method for the prediction of RNA-binding protein pockets. We present here a SVM based approach for successful prediction of these pockets. The method employs two datasets: the protein sequences of the RNA binding protein pockets and the non-RNA binding protein pockets, both of which when combined to form the positive and negative datasets to be fed into the Support Vector Machine (SVM) model. Before feeding the data to the SVM, both the datasets were crossed with several steps of sorting with the help of WEKA, which refined the selection process of obtaining ranked features of these datasets. Analysis was applied on 3 different featured datasets viz FPOCKET, Zernike and shell features. The results suggest that the top 10 features of shell are very important and play a pivotal role in the classification and prediction of ligand binding sites in RNA binding proteins. An accuracy of 89.3% was achieved when evaluated. This study demonstrates that it is possible to predict ligand binding sites in RNA binding protein pockets using its sequence.
On the deprojection of axisymmetric bodies

Axisymmetric density distributions are constructed which are invisible when viewed from a range of inclination angles $i$. By adding such distributions to a model galaxy, it can be made either disky or boxy without in any way affecting its projected image. As the inclination of a galaxy decreases from edge-on to face on, the range of `invisible' densities, the uncertainty in the deprojection, and the sensitivity of the deprojection to noise all increase. The relation between these phenomena is clarified by an analysis of Palmer's deprojection algorithm. These results imply that disk-to-bulge ratios are in principle ill-determined from photometry unless the disk is strong or the system is seen precisely edge-on. The uncertain role of third integrals in galaxies makes it unclear to what degree this indeterminacy can be resolved by kinematic studies.
Spirosoma soli sp. nov., isolated from biological soil crusts.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, short rod-shaped, non-motile, pale-yellow bacterial strain was isolated from biological soil crusts collected in the desert of Kubuqi, Inner Mongolia of China, designated MIMBbqt12T. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain MIMBbqt12T was 49.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain MIMBbqt12T belongs to the genus Spirosoma with the highest sequence similarity of 93.5 % to Spirosoma arcticum R2-35T. The major fatty acids of strain MIMBbqt12T were C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 03-OH, C16 : 1ω5c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c). The results of phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness supported that strain MIMBbqt12T represents a novel species of the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MIMBbqt12T (=MCCC 1K01308T=KCTC 42805T).