Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a fast logo recognition system using GPU

Recently, the pattern recognition becomes more impo rtant and well developed due to the technology development. Many techniques and met hods are proposed to improve and enhance the efficiency and accuracy in this fie ld. For the logo recognition, the database becomes larger and the recognition system n eded to be efficiency, accuracy and fast. Therefore, in this final year pr oject, we used SURF (Speed up Robust Feature) descriptor to extract the feature p oints of the logo and used the vocabulary tree concept as our image retrieval meth od o search over 240 images in our logo database. The image retrieval system conta ins bag of words model and cosine law equation to determine the similarity of the images. GPU will be added to accelerate the speed in matching.
Composable security for continuous variable quantum key distribution: Trust levels and practical key rates in wired and wireless networks

Continuous variable (CV) quantum key distribution (QKD) provides a powerful setting for secure quantum communications, thanks to the use of room-temperature off-the-shelf optical devices and the potential to reach much higher rates than the standard discrete-variable counterpart. In this work, we provide a general framework for studying the composable finite-size security of CV-QKD with Gaussian-modulated coherent-state protocols under various levels of trust for the loss and noise experienced by the parties. Our study considers both wired (i.e., fiber-based) and wireless (i.e., free-space) quantum communications. In the latter case, we show that high key rates are achievable for short-range optical wireless (LiFi) in secure quantum networks with both fixed and mobile devices. Finally, we extend our investigation to microwave wireless (WiFi) discussing security and feasibility of CV-QKD for very short-range applications.
Building your own personal learning network

Learning is not a solitary task and neitheris teaching. We need to keep ourknowledge and skills updated and are dependenton knowing where to find the latestnews and ideas in our subject area.Teachers have always networked with colleaguesin the same department or institution,but seldom on a national or internationalscale, this is on the other side verynatural for researchers, to work internationallyand collaborative. Today’s socialnetworking tools make networking on aglobal scale an invaluable resource for allteachers. Building a Personal LearningNetwork (PLN) with a wide range of contactsfrom all over the world, provides asource of news, support, inspiration anddiscussion that is an invaluable and integralpart of professional development.The workshop at NGL14 aimed to introducethe concepts of PLN and communityof practice (CoP) to teachers who have notyet developed an extensive professionalnet-based network. During the workshopparticipants worked collaboratively ingroups to discover relevant tools and networksto join and benefit from. The mediumof the workshop was net-based collaborativeworkspaces where links and notesfrom the session can be shared and whichare available for all participants long afterthe workshop is over. The workshop allowedparticipants to examine a representativeselection of the numerous online toolsavailable for networking, sharing and collaboration.
Feldorientierte Regelung der permanenterregten Synchronmaschine ohne Lagegeber für den gesamten Drehzahlbereich bis zum Stillstand

The present work deals with the sensorless field oriented control of surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motors. After a short review of the fundamentals of the sensorless control, an overview of the different published methods for the detection of the rotor position is given. Two methods are selected taking into account the requirements for the application in low-cost industrial drives, so that the full speed range can be achieved. The first method is based on the integration of the back EMF induced in the stator coils and is used for position estimation at high speed. At standstill, up to a certain low speed range, a high-frequency test signal method is employed. The combination of the methods into an only structure provides an extra filtering for the injection estimated rotor angle at low speeds without detrimental effects on the dynamic of the estimation. Additionally a smooth transition between both methods is also achieved. The main focus of this work is the practical implementation of the estimation methods by using a commercial inverter, which is commanded within a low-cost 16-bit fixed-point DSP. The problems that arise by the estimation with test signals, such as the need of digital bandpass-filters, dead-time compensation and decoupling of this signal from the current control, are specially discussed in this work. The solutions to these problems for suitable practical implementation are theoretically explained. The experimental results show, that the proposed concept for the sensorless speed control of this type of motors enables the realisation of less expensive and more compact drive solutions for low-end industrial applications.
Charge-Based Noise Analysis for Distal Synapses

Various synaptic properties can be quantified by analysing the flow of synaptic current. For example, by examining the variance in the current between different impulse responses, the size and number of ion channels can be deduced. If a synapse is distal, the current can become distorted as it travels through the dendrite. The distortion has a severe effect on the parameter estimates, which become invalid even for a relatively nearby synapse. This thesis develops and applies an alternative technique, which uses the variance in the total charge instead of current. The technique is shown to work for a local synapse using a model of an AMPA synapse. It is then applied to a distal synapse, and the distortion in the estimate compared to that from the current-based analysis. The distortion is corrected for, using assumptions about the cable filtering. The result is a theoretical method for estimating channel parameters in distal synapses.
Laser Beam Scintillation with Applications

Optical Wave Propagation In Random Media - Background Review Optical Scintillation Modelling Theory Of Scintillation - Plane Wave Model Theory Of Scintillation - Spherical Wave Model Theory Of Scintillation - Gaussian-Beam Wave Model Aperture Averaging Optical Communication Systems Fade Statistics For Lasercom Systems Laser Radar Systems - Scintillation Of Return Waves Laser Radar Systems - Imaging Through Turbulence.
Repeated Sprint Ability

High-intensity sprints of short duration, interspersed with brief recoveries, are common during most team sports. Therefore, the ability to recover and to reproduce performance in subsequent sprints is an important fitness requirement of team-sport athletes and has been termed repeated-sprint ability (RSA). Using laboratory and field-based protocols, performance analyses have shown that fatigue during repeated sprints is manifested by decreased running speed or reduced power output. Proposed factors responsible for these performance decrements include limitations in energy supply, metabolic by-product accumulation (e.g., Pi, H+), impairment of Ca2+ kinetics or reduced excitation of the sarcolemma (increase in extra-cellular K+). However, increasing evidence also indicates that failure to fully activate the contracting muscle might potentially limit repeated-sprint performance. Moreover, the details of the task (e.g., changes in the nature of the work/recovery bouts) will determine the contribution of the underlying mechanisms (task dependency) and additional homeostatic perturbations (e.g., hypoglycaemia, muscle damages, hyperthermia) are likely to compromise fatigue resistance. It could be argued that the best way to improve repeated-sprint performance is to improve the underlying factors responsible for fatigue. High-intensity interval training (80-90% VO2max) interspersed with rest periods that are shorter than the work periods appear necessary to increase the ability to buffer H+ (βm). We have also shown that similar high-intensity interval training can significantly improve PCr resynthesis and RSA. In contrast, intermittent sprint training has not been reported to increase βm or the rate of PCr resynthesis. Thus, rather than game-specific training, training specific for the underlying physiological systems may be required to improve these important physiological qualities for team-sport athletes. While a single sprint relies predominately on anaerobic energy sources, recent research has shown that it is possible for athletes to reach their VO2max during repeated sprints. This suggests that training that increases VO2max may allow for a greater aerobic contribution during latter sprints, potentially improving repeated-sprint performance. In summary, this chapter attempts to summarise and draw conclusions from the studies that have described mechanisms underlying functional impairments during repeated-sprint tasks and to relate these decrements to the potential impact of various training regimens on repeated-sprint performance.
Enhanced photocurrent in thin-film GaAs solar cells with embedded Al nanoparticles

ABSTRACT It is believed that the effectual scattering by earth-abundant Al nanoparticles in combination with photoelectric conversion-efficient GaAs material may help for cost-effective solar cells. Al nanoparticles of various radii embedded at different depths in a Ta2O5-coated GaAs semiconductor have been studied by finite-difference time-domain method for their influence towards spectral absorption rate and photocurrent in GaAs solar cells. The calculated spectral absorption rate and photocurrent show a significant enhancement at the optimal depth for a particular radius of Al nanoparticles, which is explained on the basis of surface plasmon resonance. Al nanoparticles of radius 80 nm embedded just below the antireflection layer of Ta2O5 result a maximum spectral absorption rate of 0.95 that leads to a photocurrent of 30.43 mA/cm2.
USE OF PERSONAS FOR USER INTERFACE DESIGN: RESULTS OF FIELD AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES

Persona is a fictitious user serving as a role model for designers, helping them make difficult decisions from the users’ perspective during the interface design process. This concept, which was introduced by Alan Cooper in 1999, has been found to be a powerful tool for engaging the designers with the users. Although personas do not replace the rich data acquired through user testing, they enhance the interface development process by focusing the designers’ attention on the target user until the interface qualifies for testing. Recognizing the benefits of persona, many companies, including the Fortune 500 have embraced this concept as a way to enhance their customer experience with computer interfaces. As this new technique originated in the practitioner’s world, no experimental validation has been conducted on the impact of implementing this technique in the interface design process. Although Pruitt and Adlin investigated methods for developing personas and using them in the design of interface, publishing their results in March 2006, the benefits of personas have yet to be experimentally validated. To address this need, the current research presents two studies focusing on the use of personas. The first details a case study developing an intranet application intended to be used by various user categories for analyzing data from aviation maintenance processes. The second experimentally validates the effect of persona-based user interface design on the performance of the respective user types. The SUMI data and performance specifications gathered through the field studies
SOIL CONDITIONS AND BUILDING DAMAGE IN 1967 CARACAS EARTHQUAKE

IN COMMENTING ON THE ORIGINAL PAPER, ENTITLED "SOIL CONDITIONS AND BUILDING DAMAGE IN 1967 CARACUS EARTHQUAKE," THE WRITER GIVES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE EFFECTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE ON THE HOTEL MACUTO-SHERATON ON THE CARABALLEDA COAST. THE HOTEL IS SUPPORTED ON RAYMOND STEP-TAPER PILES FOR WHICH A STEEL SHELL IS DRIVEN INTO THE GROUND, LEFT IN PLACE, AND FILLED WITH CONCRETE. THE RESULTS OF A TYPICAL TEST BORING AND DETAILS OF THE PILES INCLUDING A TYPICAL DRIVING LOG ARE GIVEN. THE PILES WERE DRIVEN TO AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF 25 FT, AND TO DESIGN LOADS OF 30 METRIC TONS AND 40 METRIC TONS. THE STEP-TAPER SHELLS WERE FILLED WITH 3,000 PSI CONCRETE, AND NO INTERNAL REINFORCEMENT WAS USED. PILE GROUPS FOR THE MAIN BUILDING COLUMNS RANGED FROM 40 TO 64 PILES WITH TWO MAIN COLUMNS SUPPORTED ON EACH PILE GROUP. ALL PILE CAPS WERE INTERCONNECTED BY REINFORCED CONCRETE GRADE BEAMS. THE FOUNDATION WAS DESIGNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR UBC EARTHQUAKE ZONE 2. IN PREPARATION FOR THE RESTORATION WORK ON THE HOTEL, AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FOUNDATION WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS OF VENEZUELA. FOUNDATION PILES WERE EXPOSED AND EXAMINED, AND NO DAMAGE FOUND. RECONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE HOTEL PROCEEDED WITHOUT INVOLVING ANY REMEDIAL MEASURES OR ADDITIONAL WORK ON THE EXISTING PILE FOUNDATION.
Effects of 5-aza-2ˈ-deoxycytidine and Valproic Acid on Epigenetic-modifying DNMT1 Gene Expression, Apoptosis Induction and Cell Viability in Hepatocellular Carcinoma WCH-17 cell line

Background: DNA molecule of the eukaryotic cells is found in the form of a nucleoprotein complex named chromatin. Two epigenetic modifications are critical for transcriptional control of genes, including acetylation and DNA methylation. Hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes is catalyzed by various DNA methyltransferase enzymes (DNMTs), including DNMT1, DNMT2, and DNMT3. The most well characterized DNA demetilating and histone deacetylase inhibitor drugs are 5-aza-2ˈ-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) and valproic acid (VPA), respectively. The purpose of the current study was to analyze the effects of 5-Aza-CdR and VPA on cell growth, apoptosis, and DNMT1 gene expression in the WCH-17 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive analytical study, MTT assay, flow cytometry assay, and Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCRwere done to evaluate proliferative and apoptotic effects and also gene expression. Results: Both compounds inhibited the cell growth and induced apoptosis significantly in a dose and time depended fashion. Additionally, 5-Aza-CdR down-regulated DNMT1 gene expression. The relative expression of DNMT1 was 0.40 and 0.20 (P < 0.001) at different times, respectively. The percentage of VPA- treated apoptotic cells were reduced by about 28 and 34 % (P˂0.001) and that of 5-Aza-CdR-treated were reduced by about 34 and 44 % (P˂0.001) after treatment time periods. Conclusion: In the current study, it was observed that 5-Aza-CdR and VPA could significantly inhibit the growth of WCH-17 cell and played a significant role in apoptosis. It was also found that 5-Aza-CdR could decrease DNMT1 gene expression.
Employee Flow as an Integrated and Qualitative System: Impact on Business-to-Business Service Quality

Purpose: This article develops and tests the effect of a complete model of employee flow on business-to-business (B2B) customer service outcomes. Methodology: Employee flow in organizations refers to all inflows, outflows, and internal movements of staff, and is a crucial human resources area. However, research rarely deals with employee flow as a whole. Instead, studies generally limit themselves to individual employee flow aspects, such as employee turnover, and limit outcomes to internal organizational issues. This study employs hierarchical regression and structural equation to model the effect of an integrated and qualitative measure on B2B service quality through the INDSERV scale. Findings: Employee flow, especially net outflows, affects service quality perceptions through various mediated relationships. Employee flow affects outcome quality through potential and soft process quality and impacts hard process quality through potential quality. Relationship frequency, supply chain integration of the customer, and environmental characteristics are significant moderators. Research implications: The introduction of complete employee flow as a predictor variable is a research advance and can be extended to many research settings. Confirmation that INDSERV scales have an internal progression is new and informs future model building. Practical implications: Managers, especially in bigger and service-oriented companies, might employ integrated employee flow indices as a practical management metric. The tendency of B2B processes to separate client and customer staff (e.g., through technological bridges and call centers) is discouraged by the finding that employee flow affects outcomes partly through soft process, relational quality. Managers should attend to frequency and customer integration. Contribution: The use of integrated and qualitative employee flow models in modeling service outcomes, especially in B2B settings, is an original contribution, as is the hitherto untested progression within the subconstructs of the INDSERV B2B service quality scale.
Logistics Systems for Recycling - Efficient Collection of Household Waste

This dissertation investigates collection and recycling of household waste with focus on packaging materials. The purpose is how to describe and explain the d esign of a collection system according to different system environments in orde r to achieve high logistics performance in terms of low cost and high service. The research approach consists of two main parts. First, data on existing syst ems are collected and analysed. Then a model is used to analyse cost consequenc es from changes in the system and the environment. Four main properties of reverse distribution channels were identified including the number of distribution levels and distribution points, whether the system is bring or kerbside, the degree of separation at source and the degree of co- collection. The study further demonstrates that performance can be measured in a number of ways including service toward end-markets and households, costs, en vironmental consequences and programme ratios. Finally, two main environmental factors identified were population density and the number of materials being co llected in the system. The major conclusion from the study is that systems in areas with low populatio n density should collect and recycle few materials that should be separated at the source and then co-collected. Systems in areas with high population density, on the o ther hand, may collect many materials, but then centralized separation (i.e. processing in a MRF) should take place.
Passive Flow Control over an Airfoil by Control Rod at Low Reynolds Number

In the present study, the flow control mechanism of SD7062 airfoil by a rod illustrated using Particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique at pre-stall angles of attack at Reynolds number of Re = 30000. The rod was installed on the suction surface of the airfoil at different chordwise locations. Diameter of the rod was normalized with the chord length of the airfoil and three diameter ratios (d / c = 0.017, 0.033 and 0.044) were examined at angles of attack of α = 6°, 8° and 10°. Formation of laminar separation bubble for the baseline airfoil and the effect of rod on the laminar separation bubble were investigated in detail. It is observed that the height of boundary layer was reduced up to 22% by proper rod location and diameter ratio. Moreover, the rod suppressed the unsteady vortices over the suction surface of airfoil significantly. Therefore, the peak magnitudes of turbulent statistics were also decreased up to 30% by the rod.
First reports of Megamouth Shark, Megachasma pelagios Taylor, Compagno & Struhsaker, 1983 (Lamniformes, Megachasmidae),& in Peru

Megamouth Shark, Megachasma pelagios Taylor, Compagno & Struhsaker, 1983, is one of the least-known shark species worldwide. We report the encounters of four megamouth sharks: one caught in a driftnet off Piura (November 2016; sex indeterminate), one landed in Los Organos (July 2018; female), one stranded in El Ñuro (July 2018; sex indeterminate, ca 300 m total length), and one caught in a purse seine off Lambayeque (June 2019; female, total length ca 300 cm). These are the first records from Peru and expand the species’ known southern limit by 415 km. With the addition of M. pelagios, there are 67 species of sharks in Peru.
A case study on quality of sleep and health using Bayesian networks

The objectives of this study are to investigate the associations of the socio-demographic characteristics, living habits, social and interpersonal factors and behaviour-related risk factors with both the quality of sleep and state of health. The tool used is Bayesian networks (BNs), a special case of probabilistic graphical models. The data utilised in this study is collected by employing the sample survey technique through the online network. A total of 1316 sets of data are collected with 20 variables of interest being studied. Our situation is whereby the BNs structure is unknown with full observability. A structural learning is conducted on the data to learn the correct network structure. There are several phases involved including implementation of the learning algorithms, integration of prior knowledge through the whitelist argument and arc setting to form directed acyclic graphs. The network scores computation is implemented to estimate the fitting of the resulting network of each structural learning algorithm in order to choose the best-fitted network. The arc strength or edge intensity is computed to estimate the marginal confidence on the presence of an arc. We found that the quality of sleep is dependent on certain factors in socio-demographic characteristics. The state of health is dependent on some factors in socio-demographic characteristics and living habits. We can also deduce that the quality of sleep has an impact on the state of health.
Side-channel Analysis of Subscriber Identity Modules

Abstract : Subscriber identity modules (SIMs) contain useful forensic data but are often locked with a PIN code that restricts access to this data. If an invalid PIN is entered several times, the card locks and may even destroy its stored data. This presents a challenge to the retrieval of data from the SIM when the PIN is unknown. The eld of side-channel analysis (SCA) collects, identi es, and processes information leaked via inadvertent channels. One promising side-channel leakage is that of electromagnetic (EM) emanations; by monitoring the SIM's emissions, it may be possible to determine the correct PIN to unlock the card. This thesis uses EM SCA techniques to attempt to discover the SIM card's PIN. The tested SIM is subjected to simple and di erential electromagnetic analysis. No clear data dependency or correlation is apparent. The SIM does reveal information pertaining to its validation routine, but the value of the card's stored PIN does not appear to leak via EM emissions. Two factors contributing to this result are the black-box nature of PIN validation and the hardware and software SCA countermeasures. Further experimentation on SIMs with known operational characteristics is recommended to determine the viability of future SCA attacks on these devices.