Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Frame Error Detection Performance of Optical-Wireless Advanced Framed-DOOK System

As a high transmission rate binary modulation scheme, an advanced framed-DOOK (AF-DOOK) system, which can solve the problems with the conventional OOK system and the conventional framed-DOOK system such as the performance degradation by background noise and synchronization slip has been proposed by authors. The AF-DOOK system is the advance of the conventional framed-DOOK system by extending the synchronization signal from 1-bit to 2-bits. The AF-DOOK system has a frame error detection method which the conventional framed-DOOK system does not have. In this paper, the frame error detection performance by 2-bits synchronization signal of the AF-DOOK system is investigated. The theoretical formulas to assess frame error detection performance are derived and evaluated; the frame error detection probability, the frame error undetected probability, and frame error misdetection probability. Consequently, it is indicated that the frame error detection method of the proposed AF-DOOK system is practically effective under the optical-wireless channel with scintillation and background noise.
Shape recovery of hybrid reflectance surface using neural network

The main interest of previous researches for shape from shading was only on a Lambertian surface which consists of a diffuse reflectance surface. In practice, natural objects have hybrid reflectance, which limits the recovery of shape from intensity distribution. In this paper, we propose the method of determining shape using a neural network and diffuse illumination. The segmented region of sphere surface is used for a training set, which can be determined by shadow line and edge of surface. Diffuse illumination is used to avoid specular spike and highlight which usually cause many problems such as intensity disparities. The diffuse illumination method using flat paper allows us to reduce these phenomena with a simple scheme. The neural network and diffuse illumination method are useful for shape from shading, because it can be applied to objects of unknown reflectance properties, but it is applied only to Torrance-Sparrow style reflectance.
Planar monopole antenna with Archimedean spiral slot for WiFi/Bluetooth and LTE applications

This paper presents a novel miniaturised microstrip-fed planar monopole antenna with Archimedean spiral slot to cover WiFi, Bluetooth and LTE standards. The base of the proposed antenna is a circular patch that operates in high frequency range, targeting compact circuit dimension. To create a multi-band antenna, Archimedean spiral slots, acting as resonance paths, have been integrated with the circular patch antenna. Analysis of the current distribution on the antenna reveals that at low frequencies the additional of the slots create new circular current paths, which form a wideband low-frequency response. Different shapes of Archimedean spiral slots have been investigated and compared. The miniaturised and optimised antenna exhibits a bandwidth of 2.2GHz to 2.9GHz to cover WiFi, Bluetooth (2.45GHz) and LTE (2.6GHz) mobile applications. The proposed antenna achieves low return loss, large gain, high efficiency and stable omnidirectional radiation pattern across all the relevant bands. The antenna is implemented and fabricated on an FR4 substrate. Reflection coefficient measurement results closely correlate with those obtained during design simulations. The presented antenna can be particularly applied to commercial multiband communication systems.
Music-supported therapy (MST) in improving post-stroke patients' upper-limb motor function: a randomised controlled pilot study

Abstract Objective: Music-supported therapy (MST) is a new approach for motor rehabilitation of stroke patients. Recently, many studies have demonstrated that MST improved the motor functions of post-stroke patients. However, the underlying mechanism for this effect is still unclear. It may result from repeated practice or repeated practice combined with musical stimulation. Currently, few studies have been designed to clarify this discrepancy. In this study, the application of “mute” musical instruments allowed for the study of music as an independent factor. Methods: Thirty-three post-stroke patients with no substantial previous musical training were included. Participants were assigned to either audible music group (MG) or mute music group (CG), permitting observation of music's independent effect. All subjects received the conventional rehabilitation treatments. Patients in MG (n = 15) received 20 extra sessions of audible musical instrument training over 4 weeks. Patients in CG (n = 18) received “mute” musical instrument training of the same protocol as that of MG. Wolf motor function test (WMFT) and Fugl—Meyer assessment (FMA) for upper limbs were utilised to evaluate motor functions of patients in both groups before and after the treatment. Three patients in CG dropped out. Results: All participants in both groups showed significant improvements in motor functions of upper limbs after 4 weeks' treatment. However, significant differences in the WMFT were found between the two groups (WMFT-quality: P = 0.025; WMFT-time: P = 0.037), but not in the FMA (P = 0.448). In short, all participants showed significant improvement after 4 weeks' treatment, but subjects in MG demonstrated greater improvement than those in CG. Discussion: This study supports that MST, when combined with conventional treatment, is effective for the recovery of motor skills in post-stroke patients. Additionally, it suggests that apart from the repetitive practices of MST, music may play a unique role in improving upper-limb motor function for post-stroke patients.
A Polarization Insensitive Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

This letter proposes an integrated InGaAsP-InP/silicon-on-insulator (SOI) polarization insensitive semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). The SOA consists of an SOI waveguide-based polarization diversity circuit and an InGaAsP-InP gain block. Input light with arbitrary linear polarization state will pass through the gain block twice for a roundtrip with mutually orthogonal polarization state in its forward and backward path, respectively. As such, the polarization-dependent gain (PDG) is effectively reduced. Since the returning path is not spatially overlapped with the forward path, no extra circulator is needed and the device still has two separate ports, one for input and one for output. Simulation results show that the PDG is negligibly small and the device has a broad working band of 60 nm for a PDG below 0.5 dB. This design is compatible with the mature semiconductor fabrication technology and can be monolithically integrated with other optical components.
Measles Outbreaks in a Population with Declining Vaccine Uptake

Measles is a highly infectious and potentially dangerous disease. Before mass vaccination was started in the United Kingdom, measles caused an average of 100 deaths per year ( [1][1] ). Since the introduction of vaccination, vaccine uptake has risen from around 50% in 1968 to 76% in 1988. After the
Semantic Analysis of the Minangkabau Classical Proverb Based on the Model of the Proverb Tree

This article aims to describe the meaning of the Minangkabau classic proverb from a semantic perspective. The interpretation of the classical Minangkabau proverb is illustrated in the design of the proverbial tree model. Minangkabau classic proverb data is presented in literature review from various relevant sources.Result of research indicate that found relation of adat and syarak in semantic study. This indicates a close relationship between adat and syarak in the daily life of the Minangkabau people. This indicates that the Minangkabau are strong with their customs and religion. Strength of religion and religion as it goes along. The power of religion (Islam) signifies that the Minangkabau are religious and devout Muslims.
A microwave multisine with known phase for the calibration of narrowbanded nonlinear vectorial network analyzer measurements

A method is proposed to generate an RF multi-tone (up to 10 GHz) calibration signal with a very narrow harmonic spacing (down to 100 KHz) and a known phase relation between tones. This signal is requested for the phase calibration of a nonlinear vectorial network analyzer on a dense grid, as occurs when modulated signals are measured. The phase relation is traceable to a nose-to-nose calibrated microwave sampling oscilloscope.
Model-Based Prognostic Techniques Applied to a Suspension System

Conventional maintenance strategies, such as corrective and preventive maintenance, are not adequate to fulfill the needs of expensive and high availability transportation and industrial systems. A new strategy based on forecasting system degradation through a prognostic process is required. The recent advances in model-based design technology have realized significant time savings in product development cycle. These advances facilitate the integration of model-based diagnosis and prognosis of systems, leading to condition-based maintenance and increased availability of systems. With an accurate simulation model of a system, diagnostics and prognostics can be synthesized concurrently with system design. In this paper, we develop an integrated prognostic process based on data collected from model-based simulations under nominal and degraded conditions. Prognostic models are constructed based on different random load conditions (modes). An interacting multiple model (IMM) is used to track the hidden damage. Remaining-life prediction is performed by mixing mode-based life predictions via time-averaged mode probabilities. The solution has the potential to be applicable to a variety of systems, ranging from automobiles to aerospace systems.
Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Electrospun Polymer Nanofibres

With the rapid development in nanoscience and nanotechnology, there is an ever increasing demand for polymer fibres of diameters down to a nanometre scale having multiple functionalities. Electrospinning, as a simple and efficient nanofibre-making technology, has been used to produce polymer nanofibres for diverse applications. Electrospun nanofibres based on polymer/carbon nanotube (CNT) composites are very attractive multifunctional nanomaterials because they combine the remarkable mechanical and electronic properties of CNTs and the confinement-enhanced CNTs alignment within the nanofibre structure, which could greatly improve the fibre mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. In this chapter, we summarise recent research progress on electrospun CNTs/polymer nanofibres, with an emphasis on fibre mechanical properties and structure-property attributes. Outlook towards the challenge and future directions in this field is also presented.
Promoting the use of Design Evaluation Techniques within Software Development

The importance of evaluating the design of software is essential to the success of the final software product. Design evaluation is widely used within the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) community. Note, that the American Evaluation Association (AEA) defines design evaluation as the systematic approach to the gathering and analysis of data to define requirements, to assess the merit, worth and significance of the item undergoing evaluation (Administrator-2014).
Nitrogen in the Environment: Sources, Problems, and Management

Nitrogen (N) is applied worldwide to produce food. It is in the atmosphere, soil, and water and is essential to all life. N for agriculture includes fertilizer, biologically fixed, manure, recycled crop residue, and soil-mineralized N. Presently, fertilizer N is a major source of N, and animal manure N is inefficiently used. Potential environmental impacts of N excreted by humans are increasing rapidly with increasing world populations. Where needed, N must be efficiently used because N can be transported immense distances and transformed into soluble and/or gaseous forms that pollute water resources and cause greenhouse effects. Unfortunately, increased amounts of gaseous N enter the environment as N2O to cause greenhouse warming and as NH3 to shift ecological balances of natural ecosystems. Large amounts of N are displaced with eroding sediments in surface waters. Soluble N in runoff or leachate water enters streams, rivers, and groundwater. High-nitrate drinking water can cause methemoglobinemia, while nitrosamines are associated with various human cancers. We describe the benefits, but also how N in the wrong form or place results in harmful effects on humans and animals, as well as to ecological and environmental systems.
Evaluation of between-, within- and day-to-day variation of coagulation measured by rotational thrombelastometry (ROTEM)

Abstract Background and aims: The aim of this study was to assess the circadian variation and the between- and within-subject variation in 10 healthy subjects over a period of 8 weeks by ROTEM®. We further evaluated the influence of elevated body mass index and the effect of low molecular weight heparin and antithrombin on clot formation. Methods: Citrated blood samples were analysed in the NATEM® test system. The clotting time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), maximum clot firmness (MCF) and the maximum lysis (ML) were assessed. Results: Duplicate measurements showed that 23% of the CT and 31% of the CFT measurements had a coefficient of variation (CV) greater than 10%. The within-subject CV was 16% for the CT and 30% for the CFT. The MCF was fairly constant (6%), whereas ML showed more variation (18%). The between-subject CV was 6% for the CT and 20% for the CFT. Analytical variability was improved by summing up CT and CFT. Compared to morning values, CT, CFT and the sum of CT + CFT were shortened in the afternoon. High body mass index was associated with faster clotting. High concentrations of antithrombin had similar effects on clot formation as 0.2 IU/ml of enoxaparin. Conclusions: To overcome the influence of diurnal variation, we recommend obtaining blood samples at specified times in the morning. The within-subject variation should be taken into account, when serial measurements of drug effects are required.
Existing Biosensing Platforms for the Nucleotide Markers Detection

In review, the operating principles of the most common bio sensing devices, detection methods and the identification sensitivity of analyzed molecules were shown. The central focus was done on hybridization analysis of nucleic acids (NA), which are considered to be one of the most important analytes in terms of diagnostic point of view. Constructions enabling to transfer the fact of formation of nucleotide probe/target complex in to detectable signal by optical, electrochemical or micromechanical (piezoelectric) sensors were presented in this review.
Genotyping Measles Virus by Real-Time Amplification Refractory Mutation System PCR Represents a Rapid Approach for Measles Outbreak Investigations

ABSTRACT Real-time PCR has been developed to genotype measles virus (MV) isolates. MV strains circulating in epidemics in Gabon in 1984, Cameroon in 2001, Morocco in 2003, and France in 2004 were investigated. We developed a real-time amplification refractory mutation system PCR (RT-AMRS PCR) using SYBR green fluorescent dye. Six pairs of primers for RT-ARMS PCR were designed to specifically amplify genotypes A, B2, B3.1, B3.2, C2, and D7. Genotypes could be differentiated by melting curve analysis. All strains were also confirmed by direct sequencing. Using the result obtained by direct sequencing and phylogenetic analysis as the reference, the accuracy of MV by RT-ARMS PCR and melting curve analysis was 97%. However, the latter method is more rapid and sensitive than the former method. This method could be a useful tool for molecular epidemiological studies of MV, providing an efficient alternative for large-scale studies.
La finance islamique : une nouvelle éthique ? : Comparaison avec la finance conventionnelle

Le premier chapitre presente la finance islamique, ses principes, ses produits, ses institutions. Le deuxieme chapitre, presente une comparaison entre les deux systemes bancaires, islamique et conventionnel a partir d'une etude de ratios bancaires et une analyse en composantes principales. Le troisieme chapitre a pour but de clarifier les differents facteurs attirant les clients vers les banques islamiques et montre que ceux-ci ne se limitent pas aux criteres religieux pour faire leur choix. Le quatrieme chapitre analyse les marges d'intermediation des banques islamiques et conventionnelles, en utilisant une approche dynamique du panel (Arellano-Bond, 1991). Il conclut que les banques islamiques se caracterisent par des marges plus elevees. Le cinquieme chapitre examine, pour les deux systemes bancaires, l'impact de la pression reglementaire. Il apparait que les banques islamiques et conventionnelles operant dans la region MENA se caracterisent par des niveaux de capital deja bien au-dessus du minimum reglementaire, et que la pression reglementaire n’a donc pas d’impact sur les banques islamiques. Cette inefficacite de la reglementation prudentielle peut etre expliquee par l’inadaptation de cette reglementation a la nature du risque de ces banques. Enfin, le sixieme et dernier chapitre, etudie la relation entre le capital et le risque de defaillance. Il en ressort que, dans la zone MENA, la probabilite de defaillance serait plus elevee pour les banques islamiques.
Involvement of natural killer cells in coxsackievirus B3-induced murine myocarditis.

The role of natural killer cells in the temporal development of coxsackievirus B3-induced myocarditis in adolescent CD-1 male mice was examined. Inoculation of purified CVB3m induced maximum NK cell activity in the splenic populations at 3 days postinoculation (p.i.) as assessed by lysis of YAC-1 cells; maximum virus titers in heart tissues were also found at day 3 p.i. Mice depleted of NK cells after injection of anti-asialo GM1 antiserum i.v. had decreased NK cell activity, increased CVB3m titers in heart tissues, and exacerbated myocarditis. Although lesion number was not increased in heart tissues of the latter mice, lesions in these mice exhibited increased myocyte degeneration and dystrophic calcification above that found in lesions of mice inoculated with CVB3m only. No alteration in interferon titers were observed in CVB3m-infected mice treated with anti-asialo GM1 antiserum as compared with normal CVB3m-infected mice. Measurements of splenic NK cell activity in mice inoculated with doses of 10(2) to 10(8) PFU of CVB3m per mouse or UV-irradiated virus suggest that replication of CVB3m is required for NK cell activation. An amyocarditic variant of CVB3m (ts5R) was shown to replicate in heart tissues and to elicit NK cell activity comparable to that elicited by CVB3m. Therefore, the data suggest that NK cell activation depends on virus replication and that these cells provide some protection against CVB3m-induced myocarditis by limiting virus replication in heart tissues.
Diamond‐Blackfan anaemia in the Italian population

Diamond‐Blackfan anaemia (DBA) is a congenital disease characterized by defective erythroid progenitor maturation; 30% of patients have congenital malformations. The link between these malformations and defective erythropoiesis is unclear: a defect in a molecule acting both on embryo development and haemopoiesis has been proposed. Inheritance is autosomal dominant in most familial cases, but recessive families have also been reported. Many cases are sporadic. A DBA locus has been mapped on chromosome 19q13.2 (Gustavsson et al, 1997), but several families unlinked to this locus have also been reported (Gustavsson et al, 1998).
Efficient Wi-Fi signal strength maps using sparse Gaussian process models

This objective of this paper is to propose and evaluate a new algorithm to increase the computation and storage efficiency and to reduce the bandwidth requirements of the Wi-Fi received signal strength indicator (RSSI) maps based on Gaussian Process (GP) models. GP models are non-parametric models that estimate the likelihood function of the target variable, in this case the Wi-Fi RSSI values, conditioned on a set of training data. This paper introduces the Parametric Grid Sparse GP (PGSGP) algorithm, to improve the efficiency of using GP maps. The PGSGP reduces the complexity of evaluating the likelihood function, by reducing the number of points in the training dataset, without significant loss of the mapping or positioning accuracy. This is achieved by finding a set of pseudo-inputs arranged over a parametric grid, then optimizing the corresponding target values and the GP model hyperparameters.
Distribution Pattern of Muscle Fibre Types In Soft Palate of the Dog (Canis familiaris, L.)

Distribution pattern of fibre types was studied in the muscles of the soft palate (palatinus, levator veli palatini and tensor veli palatini muscles) in the dog. The fibrillar classification was based on using histochemistry and immunohistochemistry methods: myofibrillar adenosine thriphosphatase (mATPase) to different pH of pre‐incubation; nicotine adenine dinucleotide (reduced) tetrazolium reductase (NADH‐TR) and finally, application of specific monoclonal antibodies against myosin heavy chain isoforms I, IIa and IIx. In the palatinus and levator veli palatini muscles, pure type I fibres and the hybrid type IIax and IIc were shown, with a checkerboard distribution in the first and a clear predominance of hybrid fibre types (about 98% of the total population) in levator veli palatini muscle. On the other hand, in the tensor veli palatini muscle, type IIx and IIm fibres were identified (fast‐twitch fibres related to fast‐moving muscles and the powerful jaw muscles of carnivores). The tensor veli palatini muscle had a different distribution and fibrillar composition with predominantly type IIm fibres in its central zone, whilst the peripheral zone was primarily type I and IIx fibres.
Partial Public Ownership and Managerial Incentives y

We analyze the impact of partial public ownership (PPO) on managerial incentives. A novelty of the paper is that it explicitly considers competition in the product market. We nd that PPO negatively a¤ects managerial incentives when all rms are partially owned by the government. When partially public rms compete with private rms, the e¤ects on managerial incentives crucially depend on the degree of competitive pressure. Thereby, PPO induces either partially public rms or their private competitors to o¤er stronger managerial incentives. This result is essentially con rmed even if the governments primary concern is consumer protection rather than social welfare. JEL-Classi cation: D82, H32, L13, L33
Reduced hepatic lipid content in Pten‐haplodeficient mice because of enhanced AKT2/PKBβ activation in skeletal muscle

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major health problem and occurs frequently in the context of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hepatocyte‐specific Pten‐deficiency in mice was shown previously to result in hepatic steatosis due to hyperactivated AKT2. However, the role of peripheral insulin‐sensitive tissues on PTEN‐ and AKT2‐dependent accumulation of hepatic lipids has not been addressed.
Chapter 4 Carbon Nanotube-Based Composites Synthesized Using Porous Aluminum Oxide

Devices on the basis of carbon nanotube (CNT) were not used extensively up to date [6]. That is connected with a problem of receiving the reliable, corresponding to the sizes and properties of CNT, electrode systems [7]. As a rule, usually represented CNT-devices contain other elements of the scheme, including electrodes, of the micron size. In devices on the base of CNT-array, electrodes can have the sizes, usual for microelements.