Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unconventional UHF RFID Tags with Sensing and Computing Capabilities

The design of fully-passive UHF RFID tags preserving cost-effectiveness, yet supplying augmented capabilities, represents an ambitious and stimulating challenge, as such devices would pave the way to a large class of applications where identification, computation, automatic cognition, and wireless sensing are required. In this work, two solutions are proposed. The former, named RAMSES, is optimized for RFID-based sensing and relies on a novel approach exploiting a new-generation I2C-UHF RFID chip. RAMSES is able to write sensor data into the EPC and communicate up to 5 m of distance from a conventional UHF RFID Class-1 Generation-2 (Gen2) reader. The latter solution, named SPARTACUS, renounces part of this long operating range in exchange for additional computing capabilities enabling an increased interaction with RFID readers. SPARTACUS represents the first example in literature of RFID device embedding sensing/actuation functionalities, distributed computation, and fully bidirectional communication with the reader. Satisfactory operating range, sensing, computation, data storage, and cost-effectiveness are the main strengths making the proposed devices definitely suitable for a wide array of novel and unconventional RFID applications.
Particle swarm optimization for sequencing problems: a case study

PSO has been successfully used in different areas (e. g. multidimensional and multiobjective optimization, neural networks training, etc.) but there are few reports on research in sequencing problems. In this paper we present a hybrid particle swarm optimizer (HPSO) that incorporates a random key representation for particles and a dynamic mutation operator similar to those used in evolutionary algorithm. This algorithm was designed with permutation problems. Our preliminary study shows the algorithm performance when it is applied to a set of instances for the total weighted tardiness problem in single machine environments. Results show that the hybrid HPSO is a promising approach to solve sequencing problems.
Optimal Critical Values for Pre-Testing in Regression

In this paper we derive and present optimal critical points for pre-tests in regression using a minimum average relative risk criterion. We use the same type risk functions as Sawa and Hiromatsu [8] who, in a recent paper in this journal, derived pre-test critical values using a minimax regret criterion. Since James-Stein type estimators can be shown to dominate any pre-test estimator for the risk functions used here and in [8], no normative claims are made for the critical values we give. However, the use of pre-testing procedures continues in practice and the results given here, contrasted with other results, add to information about the character of costs and returns to such practices. RECENTLY, JUDGE and his associates have derived risk functions and matrices for pre-test estimators in different contexts, and have called attention to the dominance of James-Stein type estimators where continuous weight functions of the tests statistic are used to "average" the restricted and unrestricted estimators (see [1, 2, and 7]). Sawa and Hiromatsu [8] obtained minimax regret critical values for pre-test estimators where they define regret as the difference between pre-test risk and the minimum of risk for unrestricted and restricted least squares over the range of the noncentrality parameter in the probability density function on the test statistic. They tabulated their minimax regret critical value for the case of a single restriction. Brook [3], with somewhat different scalar risk functions than Sawa and Hiromatsu, derived minimax regret critical values for multiple restrictions, and examined the effect of non-orthogonal X matrices for risk functions that concentrate on the parameter space of the regression coefficients themselves rather than on conditional forecasting of the dependent variable. In contrast to Sawa and Hiromatsu and Brook, the pre-test critical values that we derive are more favorable to unrestricted least squares. For example, using the same risk functions as Sawa and Hiromatsu or Brook, minimum average risk of the pre-test estimator leads to opting for ordinary, unrestricted least squares unless the number of restrictions is five or greater, no matter the (finite) number of regressors and observations. That is, our "optimal" critical value for a pre-test is zero unless the restrictions imply a reduction of five or more in the parameter space. In contrast, even with only one potential restriction, Sawa and Hiromatsu find that the minimax critical value for a pre-test is about 1.8, depending upon degrees of freedom. However, when the number of restrictions is very large, our results are very close to the findings by Brook. That is, optimal critical values are about 2.0 for a large number of potential restrictions for either the minimax regret or the relative minimum average risk criteria.
Effect of Preexisting Immunity to Adenovirus Human Serotype 5 Antigens on the Immune Responses of Nonhuman Primates to Vaccine Regimens Based on Human- or Chimpanzee-Derived Adenovirus Vectors

ABSTRACT In this study we compared a prime-boost regimen with two serologically distinct replication-defective adenovirus (Ad) vectors derived from chimpanzee serotypes C68 and C1 expressing Gag, Pol, gp140, and Nef of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 with a regimen in which replication-defective Ad vectors of the human serotype 5 (AdHu5) were given twice. Experiments were conducted in rhesus macaques that had or had not been preexposed to antigens of AdHu5. There was no significant difference in T-cell responses tested from peripheral blood of the different groups, although responses were overall highest in nonpreexposed animals immunized with the chimpanzee Ad vectors. Preexisting immunity to AdHu5 completely inhibited induction of transgene product-specific antibodies by the AdHu5 vectors without affecting antibody responses to the chimpanzee vectors. Upon euthanasia, T-cell responses were tested from a number of tissues. Preexisting immunity to AdHu5, commonly found in humans, changed the homing pattern of vaccine-induced T cells. In AdHu5-preexposed animals vaccinated with the chimpanzee Ad vectors, frequencies of transgene-specific T cells were higher in spleens than in blood, and in most preexposed animals vaccinated either with AdHu5 vectors or chimpanzee adenovirus vectors, frequencies of such T cells were exceptionally high in livers. The latter results indicate that analysis of T-cell responses solely from blood mononuclear cells of vaccine recipients may not suffice to compare the potencies of different vaccine regimens.
Image fusion algorithm based on regional variance and multi-wavelet bases

Wavelet analysis is a multi-resolution method based on Fourier analysis. It has good localization characteristics both in time domain and frequency domain. This paper proposes a medical image fusion algorithm based on regional variance and multi-wavelet bases. The algorithm can fuse CT and MRI medical images. First, the two modalities of images are fused based on different wavelet bases. The low-frequency coefficients follow the fusion rule based on regional variance, and the high-frequency coefficients follow the fusion rule of taking the largest absolute value. Then some primary fused images can be obtained. The final fused images will be got after the processing of weighted average for the primary images. The simulate result shows that, the fused image based on multi-wavelet bases is better than the fused image based on single-wavelet basis.
Parsing Myanmar ( Burmese ) by Using Japanese as a Pivot

As Myanmar (Burmese) and Japanese share similar syntactic structures, we explore an approach for parsing Myanmar by using Japanese as a pivot. Specifically, we first apply a statistical machines translation (SMT) system to translate Myanmar sentences into Japanese, and then we parse the Japanese translations. Finally, the Japanese syntactic structures are mapped to the original Myanmar sentences. As a state-of-the-art SMT system performs well on translating syntactically-similar languages and the parsing techniques for Japanese have been well-studied, we have satisfactory results in experiments.
Mutual Fund Style Analysis : A Stochastic Dominance Approach

It is a well-known fact that actively managed mutual funds on average underperform passive benchmarks. In this paper, we use the stochastic dominance test proposed by Linton, Maasoumi, and Whang (2005) to shed new light on mutual fund performance on average and across styles. This test evaluates mutual fund performance using a non-parametric framework that 1) imposes a minimal set of conditions on preferences; and 2) analyzes the entire return distribution for each mutual fund group. We find little evidence that actively managed mutual funds on average underperform the passive benchmark, suggesting that mutual fund performance results are highly sensitive to investor preference assumptions. Exploring the returns for different styles of mutual funds, we find that aggressive mutual funds underperform the market for risk-averse investors, whereas both growth & income and income funds outperform the market for prudent investors. Furthermore, we find that mutual fund portfolios formed by the stochastic dominance approach provide superior future performance.
Angiotensin-(1-7) Enhances Anti-Aggregatory Effects of the Nitric Oxide Donor Sodium Nitroprusside

Patients with ischemic heart disease have platelets that are resistant to the anti-aggregatory effects of nitric oxide (NO) donors. This NO resistance is associated with increased whole blood superoxide radical (O2−) content. Angiotensin II (Ang II) has been shown to augment O2− formation. Recent studies have demonstrated that angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] has opposite actions to those of Ang II in the vasculature. This study compares the effects of Ang-(1-7) and Ang II on platelet aggregation and platelet responsiveness to the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Platelet aggregation was induced by the thromboxane A2 mimetic U46619 (1-5 μmol/L), and the inhibitory effects of SNP (10 μmol/L) on the rate and extent of aggregation were quantified. Ang II did not induce aggregation, but 10-100 nmol/L Ang II potentiated U46619-induced aggregation by 21 ± 6% in the absence and by 26 ± 9% in the presence of SNP (P < 0.01 for both), in blood samples from 8 normal subjects. By contrast, Ang-(1-7) alone did not affect platelet aggregation, but 10-100 nmol/L Ang-(1-7) potentiated the anti-aggregatory effects of SNP in blood samples from both normal subjects (n = 17) and patients with acute coronary syndromes (n = 17). This effect of Ang-(1-7) was bimodal, and at higher concentrations of Ang-(1-7), potentiation was abolished. The maximum incremental effects of Ang-(1-7) on inhibition of aggregation were 25 ± 4% and 28 ± 5%, for rate and extent of aggregation respectively (P < 0.01 for both), corresponding to a 2.3-fold potentiation of the anti-aggregatory effect of SNP. Platelets from patients were resistant to the anti-aggregatory effect of SNP, but potentiation of SNP effects by Ang-(1-7) was similar for patients and normal subjects. Thus, Ang-(1-7) potentiates the anti-aggregatory effects of NO donor, and may therefore counteract platelet NO resistance that accompanies cardiovascular disease.
Spatial landmarks regulate a Cdc42-dependent MAPK pathway to control differentiation and the response to positional compromise

Significance We identify a new role for bud-site–selection proteins outside of their established roles in regulating growth site determination, as components of a surveillance pathway that monitors spatial position during intrinsic and extrinsic morphogenetic stress and regulates a Cdc42p- and MAPK-dependent response. A fundamental problem in cell biology is to understand how spatial information is recognized and integrated into morphogenetic responses. Budding yeast undergoes differentiation to filamentous growth, which involves changes in cell polarity through mechanisms that remain obscure. Here we define a regulatory input where spatial landmarks (bud-site–selection proteins) regulate the MAPK pathway that controls filamentous growth (fMAPK pathway). The bud-site GTPase Rsr1p regulated the fMAPK pathway through Cdc24p, the guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the polarity establishment GTPase Cdc42p. Positional landmarks that direct Rsr1p to bud sites conditionally regulated the fMAPK pathway, corresponding to their roles in regulating bud-site selection. Therefore, cell differentiation is achieved in part by the reorganization of polarity at bud sites. In line with this conclusion, dynamic changes in budding pattern during filamentous growth induced corresponding changes in fMAPK activity. Intrinsic compromise of bud-site selection also impacted fMAPK activity. Therefore, a surveillance mechanism monitors spatial position in response to extrinsic and intrinsic stress and modulates the response through a differentiation MAPK pathway.
Compact microstrip diplexer based on a novel coupling topology

A compact microstrip diplexer with second-order bandpass response has been reported in this paper. It is composed of two quarter-wavelength resonators and two folded half-wavelength resonators. By taking advantages of the new coupling topology proposed, two transmission zeros are generated around each passband to improve frequency selectivity and isolation performance. In addition, no extra matching circuits are needed for the designed diplexer, which greatly simplifies the design procedures and reduces the circuit size. For the demonstration, a diplexer sample occupying a compact size of 0.29 λg by 0.23 λg, has been designed and fabricated using single-layer printed circuit board (PCB) technology. Figure of merits such as low loss, high frequency selectivity, fairly good isolation and stopband rejection (>20 dB) have been achieved, which exhibits a satisfactory agreement with the EM simulations.
Localized thermal oxidation for frequency trimming and temperature compensation of micromechanical resonators

This work demonstrates electronically controllable frequency trimming and temperature compensation of individual single crystalline silicon thermal-piezoresistive resonators via localized self-induced thermal oxidation. Frequency trimming as high as ~3.7% has been demonstrated using this technique for a 53MHz resonator. At the same time, the formed oxide layer using this technique can significantly suppress the temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) for such resonators. TCF values as low as 0.2 ppm/°C have been demonstrated for resonators with initial TCF of -37ppm/°C.
p53 gain‐of‐function mutations increase Cdc7‐dependent replication initiation

Cancer‐associated p53 missense mutants confer gain of function (GOF) and promote tumorigenesis by regulating crucial signaling pathways. However, the role of GOF mutant p53 in regulating DNA replication, a commonly altered pathway in cancer, is less explored. Here, we show that enhanced Cdc7‐dependent replication initiation enables mutant p53 to confer oncogenic phenotypes. We demonstrate that mutant p53 cooperates with the oncogenic transcription factor Myb in vivo and transactivates Cdc7 in cancer cells. Moreover, mutant p53 cells exhibit enhanced levels of Dbf4, promoting the activity of Cdc7/Dbf4 complex. Chromatin enrichment of replication initiation factors and subsequent increase in origin firing confirm increased Cdc7‐dependent replication initiation in mutant p53 cells. Further, knockdown of CDC7 significantly abrogates mutant p53‐driven cancer phenotypes in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, high CDC7 expression significantly correlates with p53 mutational status and predicts poor clinical outcome in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Collectively, this study highlights a novel functional interaction between mutant p53 and the DNA replication pathway in cancer cells. We propose that increased Cdc7‐dependent replication initiation is a hallmark of p53 gain‐of‐function mutations.
Estimating the changing environmental impacts of ICT-based tasks: A top-down approach

We develop a simple method for attributing the environmental impacts of tasks performed on ICT devices according to the amount of time spent by the user pursuing them and the amount of network bandwidth they require. We use broad categories of tasks and ensure that the total impacts of all tasks add to 100%. Using publicly available data, we develop a case study of energy consumption in the U.S. and demonstrate that by 2015 web-based video will become a dominant driver of ICT energy consumption, due to its very high bandwidth requirements. Our approach is useful for the identification of broad trends in the aggregate behavior of the entire user-base.
“You win, I lose”: Towards adapting robot's teaching strategy

This paper presents a study that aims to address the challenges of creating effective educational robots. To this end, we developed a social educational robot which acts as a peer that is also a learner of a foreign language rather than a tutor teaching it. Children engage in a game with a peer robot which is programmed to either always win or always lose. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether children would learn more if they were winning or losing the game to the robot. The conducted study compares children's responses and children's improvements of English vocabulary after a game with the robot. Results indicate that children improve their English after playing with the robot, however which depends on the robot's adapting strategy.
A New Technique for Identification of Relevant Web Pages in Informational Queries Results

In this paper we present a new technique for retrieving relevant web pages in informational queries results. The proposed technique, based on a probabilistic model of language, is embedded in a traditional web search engine. The relevance of a Web page has been obtained through the judgment of human beings which, referring to continue scale, have assigned a degree of importance to each of the analyzed websites. In order to validate the proposed method a comparison with a classic engine is presented showing comparison based on a measure of Precision and Recall and on a measure of distance with respect to the measure of significance obtained by humans.
Seismic Quality Factors Estimation From Spectral Correlation

This letter describes a method for estimating seismic quality (Q) factors from spectral correlation (SC). For a linear frequency attenuation model, the SC coefficient is examined between the amplitude spectrum of a reference pulse multiplied by an absorption filter and that of a target pulse, and then, the Q factor can be determined from the absorption filter which yields the maximum SC coefficient. In this way, Q -factor estimation is converted into an optimization problem which can be quickly implemented by the Newton iteration scheme. Synthetic tests with different source signatures show that the SC method is free of the type of source wavelet. Noisy tests indicate that the SC method has higher noise resistance than the logarithm spectral ratio and the centroid frequency shifting methods. Field test indicates that the depth range of lower Q values estimated by the SC method well corresponds to the distribution of gas reservoirs. With better Q-factor evaluation, the SC method may become a more practical tool for gas reservoir characterization than before.
Considerações sobre os principais indicadores utilizados em estudos de nutrição com ruminantes

Em estudos de metabolismo animal, muitas vezes, nao e possivel obter de forma direta a informacao desejada, sendo necessario o uso de substâncias denominadas indicadores, possibilitando a estimativa de determinados parâmetros fi siologicos e nutricionais. Os indicadores sao divididos em internos, representados por substâncias indigestiveis presentes naturalmente na dieta, ou externos, quando adicionados a dieta ou fornecidos via oral ou ruminal aos animais. Para que uma substância possa ser utilizada como indicador, deve atender a determinados criterios, sendo varios os problemas associados ao seu uso, especialmente a incompleta recuperacao do indicador no duodeno ou fezes. Cada grupo de indicadores possui suas caracteristicas proprias, definindo em que situacao ele melhor se aplica. O oxido cromico e o indicador externo mais amplamente difundido, apresentando uma grande amplitude de aplicacoes, associada ainda as vantagens de facil utilizacao e baixo custo. Entre os indicadores internos, a utilizacao da porcao da fi bra indigestivel dos alimentos vem se destacando pela facilidade de uso e bons resultados apresentados pela literatura. A utilizacao dos n-alcanos, sobretudo em estimativa de consumo de animais em regime de pastejo, tem apresentado resultados bastante satisfatorios. No momento da escolha, devem ser estabelecidos criterios, como facilidade de uso e determinacao, que norteiem a decisao pelo indicador que melhor se adapte aos parâmetros a ser avaliados.
Evaluating k-epsilon with One-Equation Turbulence Model

An extended version of the isotropic one–equation model is proposed to account for the distinct effects of low-Reynolds number (LRN) and wall proximity. The turbulent kinetic energy k and the dissipation rate are evaluated using the R (= k/̃) transport equation together with some empirical relations. The eddy viscosity formulation maintains the positivity of normal Reynolds stresses and the Schwarz’ inequality for turbulent shear stresses. The model coefficients/functions preserve the anisotropic characteristics of turbulence in the sense that they are sensitized to rotational and nonequilibrium flows. The model is validated against a welldocumented flow case, yielding predictions in good agreement with the direct numerical simulation (DNS) data. Comparisons indicate that the present model offers some improvement over the Spalart–Allmaras one–equation model.
BIM-Based Indoor Positioning Technology Using a Monocular Camera

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to indoor positioning. This paper presents a BIM-based Indoor positioning technology using a monocular camera. This technology utilizes a monocular camera to obtain on-site image. An improved corner detection algorithm is used to identify the corners of the ground tile in the on-site image. Combining the geometric information from BIM, this paper completes the conversion of image pixel coordinates to the actual coordinates of the indoor ground. Based on the location information of camera in BIM model, this paper achieves the precise positioning of actual indoor target in BIM
A morphological approach to detect human in video

Human detection in video is a challenging task due to complex backgrounds, occlusions, variations in lighting conditions and so on. The main objective of this paper is to determine the presence of human in a video scene. It finds usage in determining number of persons which is found to be a useful metric in understanding the interested participants and their interaction with the environment. The foreground is detected using Gaussian mixture model and is processed to remove unwanted noise by applying suitable morphological operations forming a binary image. The dominant blob region is identified using connected component labeling technique and averaging methods are employed between clean foreground mask and binary image. Finally, edge detection is applied to each processed frame and edge details in the segmented blob displays the presence of the human in the scene. The qualitative results of the proposed system show improved detection accuracy avoiding missed and false detections.