Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of optically derived particle size distributions: scattering over the full angular range versus diffraction at near forward angles.

The volume scattering function (VSF) of particles in water depends on the particles' size distribution and composition as well as their shape and internal structure. Inversion of the VSF thus provides information about the particle population. The commercially available LISST instrument measures the scattering at near forward angles to estimate the bulk size distribution of particles larger than about 1 μm. By using scattering over the full angular range (0°-180°), the recently improved VSF-inversion method [X. Zhang, M. Twardowski, and M. Lewis, Appl. Opt. 50, 1240 (2011). ] can characterize particles in terms of particle subpopulations, which are described by their unique size distribution and composition. Concurrent deployments of the Multispectral Volume Scattering Meter and the LISST in three coastal waters (i.e., Chesapeake Bay, Mobile Bay, and Monterey Bay) allowed us to compare the size distributions derived from these two different methods. We also obtained indirect validation of the results for submicrometer particles and for the composition of particles provided by the VSF-inversion method. For particle sizes ranging from 1 to 100 μm, the concentration was shown to vary over 10 orders of magnitude, and excellent agreement was found between the two methods with a mean relative difference less than 10% for the total size distributions. The inversion results also reproduced spectral variations in the shape of the VSF, although these spectral variations were not frequently observed in our study. The increased backscattering towards the shorter wavelengths was explained by the stronger influence of submicrometer particles affecting the backscattering. Based on published measurements of cell sizes and intracellular chlorophyll-a [Chl] concentrations over a wide range of phytoplankton species and strains, [Chl] was estimated for the inverted subpopulations that were identified as phytoplankton based on their refractive index and mean sizes. The estimated [Chl] agreed well with the fluorescence-based estimates in both magnitude and trend, thus reproducing a bloom event observed at a time series station.
Changes in school through a long-term project of action research. Building bridges between school practice and Roma communities

ABSTRACT This study was carried out within the framework of a long-term action-research project in schools in Barcelona, Spain, in which a large concentration of pupils come from diverse ethnic backgrounds and are at risk of social exclusion. Specifically, the introduction of the Fifth Dimension (5D) model into these schools is analysed here. 5D is an action-research programme partnership between universities and schools that has been developed by an international network of researchers and is based on a collaborative learning model, supported by information and communication technologies and by the university students themselves. This study focuses on the changes produced in school practices and in the role of teachers. Over a 4-year period, qualitative data were elicited from four primary school using linguistic methods, field notes, interviews and focus group with educators involved in the process. Cultural Historical Activity Theory was used as a framework for analysis of the coded data. The findings highlight the key elements for the change: consistency in the mediating devices (proposed tools and activities), reorientation of classroom interactions into forms of collaboration, the changing roles of the teachers to include design, observation and help, and the development of inter-institutional partnerships based on permanent negotiation.
Face recognition with illumination distinction description

Varying lighting conditions may cause great face image appearance variance and hence seriously distort the distributions of within and between class distances, but these distributions are exactly the foundation of successful automatic recognition. In this paper, a dynamic illumination distinction description strategy is put forward to compensate for the lighting difference between probe and gallery faces. After enrolling this description, face image distances will more faithfully reflect face identity difference. We also introduce an algorithm framework to integrate both illumination distinction description computation and face recognition into once ℓ1-optimization. The effectiveness of proposed approach is verified on the Extended Yale B dataset.
GORDIAN: VLSI placement by quadratic programming and slicing optimization

The authors present a placement method for cell-based layout styles. It is composed of alternating and interacting global optimization and partitioning steps that are followed by an optimization of the area utilization. Methods using the divide-and-conquer paradigm usually lose the global view by generating smaller and smaller subproblems. In contrast, GORDIAN maintains the simultaneous treatment of all cells over all global optimization steps, thereby considering constraints that reflect the current dissection of the circuit. The global optimizations are performed by solving quadratic programming problems that possess unique global minima. Improved partitioning schemes for the stepwise refinement of the placement are introduced. The area utilization is optimized by an exhaustive slicing procedure. The placement method is applied to real-world problems, and excellent results in terms of placement quality and computation time are obtained. >
Effect of Inaccurate Position Estimation on Self-Organising Coverage Estimation in Cellular Networks

Requirement for low operating and deployment costs of cellular networks motivate the need for self-organisation in cellular networks. To reduce operational costs, self-organising networks are fast becoming a necessity. One key issue in this context is self-organised coverage estimation that is done based on the signal strength measurement and reported position information of system users. In this paper, the effect of inaccurate position estimation on self-organised coverage estimation is investigated. We derive the signal reliability expression (i.e. probability of the received signal being above a certain threshold) and the cell coverage expressions that take the error in position estimation into consideration. This is done for both the shadowing and non-shadowing channel models. The accuracy of the modified reliability and cell coverage probability expressions are also numerically verified for both cases.
Prognostic Significance of a Complete Response on Breast MRI in Patients Who Received Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy According to the Molecular Subtype

Objective To evaluate the relationship between response categories assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or pathology and survival outcomes, and to determine whether there are prognostic differences among molecular subtypes. Materials and Methods We evaluated 174 patients with biopsy-confirmed invasive breast cancer who had undergone MRI before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but before surgery. Pathology findings were classified as a pathologic complete response (pCR) or a non-pCR, and MRI findings were designated as a radiologic CR (rCR) or a non-rCR. We evaluated overall and subtype-specific associations between clinicopathological factors including the assessment categories and recurrence, using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results There were 41 recurrences (9 locoregional and 32 distant recurrences). There were statistically significant differences in recurrence outcomes between patients who achieved a radiologic or a pCR and patients who did not achieve a radiologic or a pCR (recurrence hazard ratio, 11.02; p = 0.018 and recurrence hazard ratio, 3.93; p = 0.022, respectively). Kaplan-Meier curves for recurrence-free survival showed that triple-negative breast cancer was the only subtype that showed significantly better outcomes in patients who achieved a CR compared to patients who did not achieve a CR by both radiologic and pathologic assessments (p = 0.004 and 0.001, respectively). A multivariate analysis found that patients who achieved a rCR and a pCR did not display significantly different recurrence outcomes (recurrence hazard ratio, 2.02; p = 0.505 and recurrence hazard ratio, 1.12; p = 0.869, respectively). Conclusion Outcomes of patients who achieved a rCR were similar to those of patients who achieved a pCR. To evaluate survival difference according to molecular subtypes, a larger study is needed.
Clickthrough-based translation models for web search: from word models to phrase models

Web search is challenging partly due to the fact that search queries and Web documents use different language styles and vocabularies. This paper provides a quantitative analysis of the language discrepancy issue, and explores the use of clickthrough data to bridge documents and queries. We assume that a query is parallel to the titles of documents clicked on for that query. Two translation models are trained and integrated into retrieval models: A word-based translation model that learns the translation probability between single words, and a phrase-based translation model that learns the translation probability between multi-term phrases. Experiments are carried out on a real world data set. The results show that the retrieval systems that use the translation models outperform significantly the systems that do not. The paper also demonstrates that standard statistical machine translation techniques such as word alignment, bilingual phrase extraction, and phrase-based decoding, can be adapted for building a better Web document retrieval system.
Statistical properties of extragalactic sources in the New Extragalactic WMAP Point Source (NEWPS) catalogue

We present results on spectral index distributions, number counts, redshift distribution and other general statistical properties of extragalactic point sources in the New Extragalactic WMAP Point Source5σ (NEWPS) sample. The flux calibrations at all the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe channels have been reassessed both by comparison with ground-based observations and through estimates of the effective beam areas. The two methods yield consistent statistical correction factors. A search of the NASA Extragalactic Data base (NED) has yielded optical identifications for ∼89 per cent of sources in the complete subsample of 252 sources with signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) ≥ 5 and S≥ 1.1 Jy at 23 GHz; five sources turned out to be Galactic and were removed. The NED also yielded redshifts for ≃92 per cent of the extragalactic sources at |b| > 10°. Their distribution was compared with model predictions; the agreement is generally good but a possible discrepancy is noted. Using the 5 GHz fluxes from the GB6 or PMN surveys, we find that ∼76 per cent of the 191 extragalactic sources with S23 GHz > 1.3 Jy can be classified as flat-spectrum sources between 5 and 23 GHz. A spectral steepening is observed at higher frequencies: only 59 per cent of our sources are still flat-spectrum sources between 23 and 61 GHz, and the average spectral indexes steepen from 〈α235〉= 0.01 ± 0.03 to 〈α6141〉= 0.37 ± 0.03. We think, however, that the difference may be due to a selection effect. The source number counts have a close to Euclidean slope and are in good agreement with the predictions of the cosmological evolution model by De Zotti et al. The observed spectral index distributions were exploited to get model-independent extrapolations of counts to higher frequencies. The risks of such operations are discussed and reasons of discrepancies with other recent estimates are clarified.
Recent Developments in Antibody-Based Assays for the Detection of Bacterial Toxins

Considering the urgent demand for rapid and accurate determination of bacterial toxins and the recent promising developments in nanotechnology and microfluidics, this review summarizes new achievements of the past five years. Firstly, bacterial toxins will be categorized according to their antibody binding properties into low and high molecular weight compounds. Secondly, the types of antibodies and new techniques for producing antibodies are discussed, including poly- and mono-clonal antibodies, single-chain variable fragments (scFv), as well as heavy-chain and recombinant antibodies. Thirdly, the use of different nanomaterials, such as gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), quantum dots (QDs) and carbon nanomaterials (graphene and carbon nanotube), for labeling antibodies and toxins or for readout techniques will be summarized. Fourthly, microscale analysis or minimized devices, for example microfluidics or lab-on-a-chip (LOC), which have attracted increasing attention in combination with immunoassays for the robust detection or point-of-care testing (POCT), will be reviewed. Finally, some new materials and analytical strategies, which might be promising for analyzing toxins in the near future, will be shortly introduced.
Do Current Lattice Boltzmann Methods for Diffusion and Advection-Diffusion Equations Respect Maximum Principle and the Non-Negative Constraint?

The Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) has established itself as a popular numerical method in computational fluid dynamics. Several advancements have been recently made in LBM, which include multiple-relaxation-time LBM to simulate anisotropic advection-diffusion processes. Because of the importance of LBM simulations for transport problems in subsurface and reactive flows, one needs to study the accuracy and structure preserving properties of numerical solutions under the LBM. The solutions to advective-diffusive systems are known to satisfy maximum principles, comparison principles, the non-negative constraint, and the decay property. In this paper, using several numerical experiments, it will be shown that current single- and multiple-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann methods fail to preserve these mathematical properties for transient diffusion-type equations. We will also show that these violations may not be removed by simply refining the discretization parameters. More importantly, it will be shown that meeting stability conditions alone does not guarantee the preservation of the aforementioned mathematical principles and physical constraints in the discrete setting. A discussion on the source of these violations and possible approaches to avoid them is included. A condition to guarantee the non-negativity of concentration under LBM in the case of isotropic diffusion is also derived. The impact of this research is twofold. First , the study poses several outstanding research problems, which should guide researchers to develop LBM-based formulations for transport problems that respect important mathematical properties and physical constraints in the discrete setting. This paper can also serve as a good source of benchmark problems for such future research endeavors. Second , this study cautions the practitioners of the LBM for transport problems with the associated numerical deficiencies of the LBM, and provides guidelines for performing predictive simulations of advective-diffusive processes using the LBM.
A Silent ABC Transporter Isolated fromStreptomyces rochei F20 Induces Multidrug Resistance

ABSTRACT In the search for heterologous activators for actinorhodin production in Streptomyces lividans, 3.4 kb of DNA fromStreptomyces rochei F20 (a streptothricin producer) were characterized. Subcloning experiments showed that the minimal DNA fragment required for activation was 0.4 kb in size. The activation is mediated by increasing the levels of transcription of theactII-ORF4 gene. Sequencing of the minimal activating fragment did not reveal any clues about its mechanism; nevertheless, it was shown to overlap the 3′ end of two convergent genes, one of whose translated products (ORF2) strongly resembles that of other genes belonging to the ABC transporter superfamily. Computer-assisted analysis of the 3.4-kb DNA sequence showed the 3′ terminus of an open reading frame (ORF), i.e., ORFA, and three complete ORFs (ORF1, ORF2, and ORFB). Searches in the databases with their respective gene products revealed similarities for ORF1 and ORF2 with ATP-binding proteins and transmembrane proteins, respectively, which are found in members of the ABC transporter superfamily. No similarities for ORFA and ORFB were found in the databases. Insertional inactivation of ORF1 and ORF2, their transcription analysis, and their cloning in heterologous hosts suggested that these genes were not expressed under our experimental conditions; however, cloning of ORF1 and ORF2 together (but not separately) under the control of an expressing promoter induced resistance to several chemically different drugs: oleandomycin, erythromycin, spiramycin, doxorubicin, and tetracycline. Thus, this genetic system, named msr, is a new bacterial multidrug ABC transporter.
Robust two-camera tracking using homography

The paper introduces a two view tracking method which uses the homography relation between the two views to handle occlusions. An adaptive appearance-based model is incorporated in a particle filter to realize robust visual tracking. Occlusion is detected using robust statistics. When there is occlusion in one view, the homography from this view to other views is estimated from previous tracking results and used to infer the correct transformation for the occluded view. Experimental results show the robustness of the two view tracker.
Art Therapy`S Influence On Preschoolers`S With Mental Delay Emotional Development

The main methods used by many educators and psychologists for the correction of emotional sphere of preschool children are the forms of art and creative activities accessible to preschoolers, in other words, art therapy. The present study includes three main stages. The diagnostic stage of our experimental study aims at diagnosing the emotional sphere of six-year-old preschoolers with mental development delay. The development stage includes the employment of the program “Our Emotions”. The control stage consists in the secondary diagnostics of the emotional sphere development of preschoolers under study. The study shows that art therapy can be successfully used in relation to emotional sphere as well as self-esteem level in preschool children with mental development delay. Therefore, correction programs including art therapy elements for senior preschoolers have a unique potential for their correctional-developmental education. This method gives the child opportunities for self-revelation and self-realization, and also creates necessary conditions for a specialist for diagnosing and correcting the child’s emotional state. The experiment conducted shows that senior preschoolers with mental development delay have significant difficulties in realizing and expressing their emotions as well as insufficient skills at controlling their own emotional states. Using art therapy elements and methods in the correctional work will contribute to the successful overcoming of deficiencies in emotional sphere in senior preschoolers with mental development delay. © 2018 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy. org.UK
Framework of an IoT-based Industrial Data Management for Smart Manufacturing

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the global network of interrelated physical devices such as sensors, actuators, smart applications, objects, computing devices, mechanical machines, and people that are becoming an essential part of the internet. In an industrial environment, these devices are the source of data which provide abundant information in manufacturing processes. Nevertheless, the massive, heterogeneous, and time-sensitive nature of the data brings substantial challenges to the real-time collection, processing, and decision making. Therefore, this paper presents a framework of an IoT-based Industrial Data Management System (IDMS) which can manage the huge industrial data, support online monitoring, and control smart manufacturing. The framework contains five basic layers such as physical, network, middleware, database, and application layers to provide a service-oriented architecture for the end users. Experimental results from a smart factory case study demonstrate that the framework can manage the regular data and urgent events generated from various factory devices in the distributed industrial environment through state-of-the-art communication protocols. The collected data is converted into useful information which improves productivity and the prognosis of production lines.
Image Edit by Boundary Difference Propagation

This paper introduces a novel approach for image edit. Instead of solving Poisson equation, image edit task can be treated as in painting the region of interest by propagating the boundary differences between target and source image. Based on the Fast Marching Method, differences along the boundary can be progressively eliminated to interior layer by layer, and we can get a seamless edit result. It is very simple to implement. Incorporating mixed saliency map, we further improve our edit model to achieve better and more realistic results for images with salient background structure. The experimental results are provided to demonstrate the performance of the algorithms.
Connected sums of closed Riemannian manifolds and fourth-order conformal invariants

In this note we take some initial steps in the investigation of a fourth-order analogue of the Yamabe problem in conformal geometry. The Paneitz constants and the Paneitz invariants considered are believed to be very helpful to understand the topology of the underlying manifolds. We calculate how those quantities change, analogous to how the Yamabe constants and the Yamabe invariants do, under the connected sum operations.
Seamless design methodology of manufacturing cell-control software based on activity-control-condition and object diagram

A manufacturing cell must be changed according to the type, variations and intended rate of production for the product. In order to shorten the period of time required for the cell-control software development, the system designer must have the descriptions of the configuration of the cell and the sequence of activities required in the cell, and a comprehensive design methodology based on these descriptions. First, we propose a seamless design methodology that is comprehensive and has a clear design concept. The methodology is based on the diagrammatic specification and the conversion processes of it. The diagrammatic specification represents both the configuration of the cell and the sequence of activities required in the cell; what kind of devices exist in the cell and how they are connected with each other, and how they should work in order to complete the task. The methodology specifies the step-by-step conversion processes from the initial diagrammatic specification to the cell-control software code. The conversion is divided into three processes: Refinement of the device activities, translation of the device activities into the cell-controller activities, and transformation from the cell-controller activities to the cell-control software code. Secondly, as the diagrammatic specification, we propose an object diagram and an Activity-Control-Condition (ACC) diagram. The object diagram represents a set of objects and the links among them. The ACC diagram represents the sequence of activities required in the cell as three constructs: the state transitions of objects involved in each activity, the control logic among activities and the conditions for the control. Thirdly, we show the diagram editor how to help the system designer carry out the processes in the design methodology. The system designer can use the following functions of the diagram editor: modifying, saving and loading the object diagram and ACC diagram, and generating the cellcontrol software code from the translated ACC diagram. Finally, we show the implementation method of the cellcontrol software, and we verify the functionality of the software by comparing it with the sequence of activities in the ACC diagram.