Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Divide and Conquer Method for Three-Dimensional Electrical Impedance Tomography

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a patient safe approach for imaging applications, and is a promising technology for biomedical imaging. By applying an electrical current to a living tissue and measuring the electrical potential at different points of the boundary of the tissue, it is possible to solve the inverse problem and allow us to generate a map of the conductivities of the tissue. Although it is a promising method, the reconstruction process remains a complicated task and therefore real-time nonlinear image reconstruction algorithms are not widely adopted yet. Recently, use of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to solve an EIT inverse problem has been proposed. ANNs can give a nonlinear conductivity distribution. Although several works have been published on 2dimensional FE models, very little work has considered three-dimensional problems. In this paper, a solution based on Divide and Conquer and ANNs is used to solve the non-linear inverse problem without any linearization. The solution presented here aims to reduce the difficulty of training a large ANN, which is commonly required to solve a 3D-EIT problem with Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms.
Structural and Electrical Properties of Microwave Processed Ag Modified KNN-LS Ceramics

Abstract Microwave processing steps of 0.95[(K0.5Na0.5)0.94Ag0. 06NbO3]-0.05[LiSbO3]/(KNAN-LS) lead free ferroelectric ceramics were optimized for better densification and electrical properties. Calcination temperature and time for single perovskite phase formation were optimized and found to be 850 °C for 60 min., respectively. Crystal structural study revealed the presence of mixed structure in the microwave processed (MWP) KNAN-LS ceramics. The sintering of the KNAN-LS ceramics was carried out at 1080 °C for 10 min, 20 min and 30 min, respectively, and the sample sintered for 20 min exhibited best properties.
Automatic Satellite Telemetry Analysis for SSA using Artificial Intelligence Techniques

In April 2016, General Hyten, commander of Air Force Space Command, announced the Space Enterprise Vision (SEV) (http://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/719941/hyten-announces-space-enterprise-vision/). The SEV addresses increasing threats to space-related systems. The vision includes an integrated approach across all mission areas (communications, positioning, navigation and timing, missile warning, and weather data) and emphasizes improved access to data across the entire enterprise and the ability to protect space-related assets and capabilities. "The future space enterprise will maintain our nation's ability to deliver critical space effects throughout all phases of conflict," Hyten said. Satellite telemetry is going to become available to a new audience. While that telemetry information should be valuable for achieving Space Situational Awareness (SSA), these new satellite telemetry data consumers will not know how to utilize it. We were tasked with applying AI techniques to build an infrastructure to process satellite telemetry into higher abstraction level symbolic space situational awareness and to initially populate that infrastructure with useful data analysis methods. We are working with two organizations, Montana State University (MSU) and the Air Force Academy, both of whom control satellites and therefore currently analyze satellite telemetry to assess the health and circumstances of their satellites. The design which has resulted from our knowledge elicitation and cognitive task analysis is a hybrid approach which combines symbolic processing techniques of Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) and Behavior Transition Networks (BTNs) with current Machine Learning approaches. BTNs are used to represent the process and associated formulas to check telemetry values against anticipated problems and issues. CBR is used to represent and retrieve BTNs that represent an investigative process that should be applied to the telemetry in certain circumstances. Machine Learning is used to learn normal patterns of telemetry, learn pre-mission simulated telemetry patterns that represent known problems, and detect both pre-trained known and unknown abnormalities in real-time. The operational system is currently being implemented and applied to real satellite telemetry data. This paper presents the design, examples, and results of the first version as well as planned future work.
Factors Influencing the Growth of Small and Medium Sized Firms in Different Growth Stages

Small and medium enterprises play an important role in the development of a country. The growth of SMEs is also important for the world economy which has been widely discussed in recent years. Although the growth of small firm is a well known topic in theoretical research, still there are some research gaps that need to be filled. There is no single multidimensional theory which would embrace all possible approaches; most studies on SMEs’ growth examine the growth factors one by one. (Wasilczuk, 2000) Nor is there any single theory that can adequately explain small business growth due to the heterogeneity of SMEs. Moreover, growth itself is difficult to measure, and can be measured either objectively or subjectively. (Delmar, 1996) Therefore, this study incorporates the resource-based view, as well as the consideration of SMEs’ fives stages model to examine the growth factor of SMEs. The resource-based view provides a unified approach in the conceptualization of the resource analysis in the small firm. The five stages model shows the position of SMEs current growth stage. By analyzing SMEs’ key resources (tangible and intangible resources), indentifying their growth stages, SMEs can find out the critical resources which influence their business growth. As a conclusion, the study finds that each resource has its importance in different stages. Tangible resources, such as cash and physical resources are critical in the start-up firms, while intangible resources are prioritized in the success and resource maturity stages. In order to gain the competitive advantages, SMEs should fully develop the unique and inimitable resources such as the brand, technology, culture and reputations.
The Virucidal EB Peptide Protects Host Cells from Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection in the Presence of Serum Albumin and Aggregates Proteins in a Detergent-Like Manner

ABSTRACT The linear cationic amphiphilic EB peptide, derived from the FGF4 signal sequence, was previously shown to be virucidal and to block herpes simplex type I (HSV-1) entry (H. Bultmann, J. S. Busse, and C. R. Brandt, J. Virol. 75:2634–2645, 2001). Here we show that cells treated with EB (RRKKAAVALLPAVLLALLAP) for less than 5 min are also protected from infection with HSV-1. Though protection was lost over a period of 5 to 8 h, it was reinduced as rapidly as during the initial treatment. Below a 20 μM concentration of EB, cells gained protection in a serum-dependent manner, requiring bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a cofactor. Above 40 μM, EB coprecipitated with BSA under hypotonic conditions. Coprecipitates retained antiviral activity and released active peptide. NaCl (≥0.3 M) blocked coprecipitation without interfering with antiviral activity. As shown for β-galactosidase, EB below 20 μM acted as an enzyme inhibitor, whereas above 40 to 100 μM EB, β-galactosidase was precipitated as was BSA or other unrelated proteins. Pyrene fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that in the course of protein aggregation, EB acted like a cationic surfactant and self associated in a process resembling micelle formation. Both antiviral activity and protein aggregation did not depend on stereospecific EB interactions but depended strongly on the sequence of the peptide's hydrophobic tail. EB resembles natural antimicrobial peptides, such as melittin, but when acting in a nonspecific detergent-like manner, it primarily seems to target proteins.
Progressive sorting in the external memory model

Executing all steps of an algorithm that faces with massive input data may take a long time. A progressive algorithm solves the problem step by step, and produces a partial solution in each step which approximates the final solution. Therefore, the user can decide to stop the algorithm or continue to get better solutions. In this paper, we consider the problem of sorting a set of N real numbers, and design a progressive algorithm with O(logM/B N/B) steps that takes O(N/B) I/O operations in each step in the external memory model. The upper bound for the error of the partial solution in step r is O( N (M/B)r/2 ).
Enterovirus D68: A clinically important respiratory enterovirus

Seasonal peaks of viral respiratory illnesses are common during late summer and early fall and have often been attributed to human rhinovirus. In the fall of 2014, the number of children hospitalized with severe lower respiratory symptoms and asthma suddenly increased, and the children tested positive by sequencing for enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). As the outbreak unfolded, a possible association was also observed between EV-D68 infection, polio-like acute flaccid paralysis, and cranial neuropathy in children. The fall of 2014 saw an outbreak of severe respiratory illness due to a virus of emerging importance.
CONSUMERS ’ WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR ORGANIC LEAFY VEGETABLES IN ABEOKUTA SOUTHWEST NIGERIA : EVIDENCE FROM DOUBLE BOUNDED DICHOTOMOUS CHOICE APPROACH

Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. *Corresponding author email: chiomaadekunle@gmail.com; Phone number:+2348060174180 The use of dichotomous choice (DC) method in explaining the willingness to pay (WTP) in contingent valuation studies is a common method in Economics. Research has shown that double-bounded dichotomous choice methods provide statistically superior outcomes than single bounded methods, given appropriate sampling design. High levels of pesticide and chemical fertilizer residuals in leafy vegetables have been reported to be detrimental to health. Consumers often do not totally trust the safety of leafy vegetables because the chemical residue levels are difficult to be fully checked and controlled. Organic leafy vegetables which are known to be free of synthetic agro-chemicals bring a new option for consumers. This study seeks to evaluate current status of organic leafy vegetables consumption and explaining consumers’ willingness to pay a premium price for organic leafy vegetables in Abeokuta, southwest, Nigeria. Primary data were collected and the sample size was 179 respondents. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) under double bounded dichotomous choice approach. The result showed that 70% of the consumers were willing to pay a premium price for the selected organic leafy vegetables. Although, the proportion of the consumers who were willing to pay the premium price generally decreased with increases in price. It is concluded that bid price, prior knowledge and income were the significant factors influencing respondents’ willingness to pay a price premium for the selected organic leafy vegetables in the study area.
Symbionts of Four Mosquito Species Bacterial Asaia as Revealed by Typing of Molecular Evidence for Multiple Infections

Published Ahead of Print 17 September 2010. 10.1128/AEM.01747-10. 2010, 76(22):7444. DOI: Appl. Environ. Microbiol. Daffonchio and Claudio Bandi N'Fale Sagnon, Alberto Alma, Guido Favia, Daniele Ricci, Elena Crotti, Claudia Damiani, Sara Epis, Ingrid Faye, Bessem Chouaia, Paolo Rossi, Matteo Montagna, Irene Symbionts of Four Mosquito Species Bacterial Asaia as Revealed by Typing of Molecular Evidence for Multiple Infections
Biomass Expansion Factors Estimation of Chinese Fir ( Cunninghamia Lanceolata ) based on General Approach , Mixed Model Approach and Bayesian Hierarchical Approach

BEF–stem volume equation has been widely applied to accurate stand biomass estimations. Stand biomass data were obtained from 53 permanent sample plots from Chinese fir plantations in Anhui and Fujian Province across China. There were significant differences between Fujian and Anhui from compared the stand biomass, volumes and BEF at difference age. The general approach, mixed model approach and Bayesian hierarchical approach were applied to establish BEF–stem volume equation for test effect factor of regions. Based on the fitting results, the mixed model approach and Bayesian hierarchical approach significant improving the accuracy of the stand biomass (p-values < 0.001). But there was no significant between the mixed model approach and Bayesian hierarchical approach (p-value =0.547). The R2 values which used mixed model approach and Bayesian hierarchical approach were 0.159 and 0.161 higher than general approach. The RMSE and MAB values also declined 0.083 and 0.092, 0.143 and 0.148, respectively. Both the mixed model approach and Bayesian hierarchical approach were an effective method for estimating stand biomass at the regional scale.
Development of Visual Field Screening Procedures: A Case Study of the Octopus Perimeter

Purpose We develop a methodology for designing perimetric screening procedures, using Octopus perimeters as a case study. Methods The process has three stages: analytically determining specificity and number of presentations required for different multisampling suprathreshold schemes at a single location of the visual field, ranking visual field locations by their positive predictive value (PPV) for glaucoma, and determining a pass/fail criteria for the test. For the case study the Octopus G-program visual field test pattern is used, and a dataset of 385 glaucoma and 86 normal patients. Results Using a 1-of-3 sampling strategy at a level equal to the 95 percentile of normal observers gave the most robust specificity under the influences of false-negative responses using an average of 1.5 presentations per location. The PPV analysis gave 19 locations that completely classified our glaucomatous data. A further 9 points were added to screen for nonglaucomatous loss. The final stage found that insisting that 3 locations are missed for the screening to fail gave a simulated specificity and sensitivity of approximately 95% for unreliable responders. Conclusions Our method gives a principled approach to choosing between the many parameters of a visual field screening procedure. We have developed a procedure for the Octopus that should terminate in less than 1 minute for normal observers with high specificity and sensitivity to glaucoma. Translational Relevance Visual field screening is used in community settings and eye care practice. This study provides a principled approach to the development of such screening procedures and details a new procedure.
Noise Temperature of a Wideband Superconducting HEB mixer

In this paper we report on the development of a logspiral antenna coupled superconducting HEB mixer which has a RF bandwidth of 0.2-2 THz. The DSB receiver noise temperature (Trec) has been measured from 0.2 THz to 1.4 THz with same measurement setup at 4 K bath temperature, the uncorrected Trec shows good performance in the whole operating frequency and is 700 K at 0.2 THz, 700 K at 0.5 THz, 750 K at 0.6 THz, 750 K at 0.85 THz and 1000 K at 1.34 THz. The calibrated intrinsic noise temperature of HEB device shows a frequency independent performance across the gap frequency.
OV / 1-2 1 Recent Progress in High Power Heating and Long Pulse Experiments on EAST

New capabilities including RF powers and diagnostics have been developed since last IAEA meeting. Totally about 3MW heating and current drive power is injected into the EAST plasma. Behavior of basic plasma confinement/transport under the condition of dominant electron heating and low momentum input is investigated, which shows typical L-mode characteristics and consistent with GLF32 transport model. Divertor performance has been systematically assessed for both SN and DN configurations with normal and reversed Bt directions. Intriguing findings, particularly, in asymmetries correlated with classic drift and in control by gas puffing at various divertor locations are studied. 1MW LHW power injection has produced fully non-inductive plasma discharges, where both plasma and all PF coils can reach steady-state. Such discharges have been readily extended well over one minute. Higher power up to 1.5MW led over current driven. ICRF experiments have been conducted in different heating scenarios. Up to 2.4MW of ICRF power was injected into machine. However, weak coupling prevented effective heating. Intrinsic toroidal rotation and momentum study in ohmic and LHCD plasmas reveals the importance of the balance between the neoclassical viscosity and the neutral friction at edge. Novel wall conditioning techniques using RF and high frequency HF glow discharges in the presence of toroidal magnetic fields have been successfully applied routinely to achieve a good wall condition. Great efforts are being dedicated to high power heating, under well conditioned wall to achieve high performance plasma performance.
An Efficient Attendance Management Sytem based on Face Recognition using Matlab and Raspberry Pi 2

A facial recognition system is an application of computer vision which is capable of performing two basic tasks of identification and verification of person. With the advent of image processing techniques automatic face recognition is a popular research topic. Conventionally attendance in schools, institutes and universities are taken by professors and records are stored in registers. This approach waste a lot of time. The objective of this paper is to instigate a new approach for taking attendance automatically. Local features are extracted by using two techniques Local Binary Pattern (LBP) and Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) which are used for recognition of faces of respective students from stored database for attendance marking. Support vector machine (SVM) classifier is used for comparing database stored features with extracted features from captured images of students. Keywords—local binary pattern, histogram of oriented gradients, matlab, raspberry pi, support vector machine, violajones algorithm.
Impact of the transformer in the current mode supply of dielectric barrier discharge excimer lamps

This paper presents an analysis of the consequences of using a step-up transformer in the supply of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) excimer lamp. A simplified transformer model is used to analyze the effects of the different parasitic elements in the operation of a current mode power supply. Mathematical expressions are found for each element and experimental validation is performed. The design of the transformer is developed on the basis of the lamp specifications and two transformer configurations are tested experimentally, analyzing the effect of the parasitic elements and evidencing the influence of grounding a lamp terminal.
Dendritic Cell-Intrinsic Expression of NF-κB1 Is Required to Promote Optimal Th2 Cell Differentiation1

A number of receptors and signaling pathways can influence the ability of dendritic cells (DC) to promote CD4+ Th type 1 (Th1) responses. In contrast, the regulatory pathways and signaling events that govern the ability of DC to instruct Th2 cell differentiation remain poorly defined. In this report, we demonstrate that NF-κB1 expression within DC is required to promote optimal Th2 responses following exposure to Schistosoma mansoni eggs, a potent and natural Th2-inducing stimulus. Although injection of S. mansoni eggs induced production of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in the draining lymph node of wild-type (WT) mice, NF-κB1−/− hosts failed to express Th2 cytokines and developed a polarized Ag-specific IFN-γ response. In an in vivo adoptive transfer model in which NF-κB-sufficient OVA-specific DO11.10 TCR transgenic T cells were injected into OVA-immunized WT or NF-κB1−/− hosts, NF-κB1−/− APCs efficiently promoted CD4+ T cell proliferation and IFN-γ responses, but failed to promote Ag-specific IL-4 production. Further, bone marrow-derived DC from NF-κB1−/− mice failed to promote OVA-specific Th2 cell differentiation in in vitro coculture studies. Last, S. mansoni egg Ag-pulsed NF-κB1−/− DC failed to prime for Th2 cytokine responses following injection into syngeneic WT hosts. Impaired Th2 priming by NF-κB1−/− DC was accompanied by a reduction in MAPK phosphorylation in Ag-pulsed DC. Taken together, these studies identify a novel requirement for DC-intrinsic expression of NF-κB1 in regulating the MAPK pathway and governing the competence of DC to instruct Th2 cell differentiation.
Comparative study of topologies for three-phase transformerless photovoltaic systems

This paper introduces a comparative study of three topologies with voltage boost capability for three-phase transformerless photovoltaic systems: two modifications of the original Z-source inverter and the conventional two-stage converter (dc-dc boost converter plus voltage source inverter). First, an overview on pulse-width-modulation possibilities for these converters is given, in order to compare its main characteristics. In special, a study of losses is presented and its methodology is used to compare the three topologies in such a way that the option of best efficiency can be chosen. The loss models of the switches and diodes based on the operating points given by data sheets or based on PSpice models of the devices are used to estimate the converters overall efficiency. As result of the comparative study, the conventional two-stage converter appears as the lowest cost and highest efficiency structure among those studied. Simulation and experimental results of the two-stage converter are obtained to validate its application in three-phase transformerless photovoltaic systems.
Design and linearity analysis of a M-2M DAC for very low supply voltage

This work presents the design of a 6 bits M-2M ladder Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) proper for operation under supply voltages of 200 mV or lower. Since the MOS transistors are operating in the subthreshold region under such low supply, the mismatch analysis was done using an all-region continuous MOSFET model. The performance of the circuit is evaluated through simulations and the trade-offs between linearity, supply voltage and sampling rate are investigated in the paper. It is proposed that a 6 bits M-2M DAC operating under 200 mV and with sampling rate of 5.1MS/s is feasible using a commercial 130 nm process and standard transistors.