Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Transfer Learning Approach for Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema Severity Grading

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) are complication that occurs in diabetic patient especially among working age group that leads to vision impairment problem and sometimes even permanent blindness. Early detection is very much needed for diagnosis and to reduce blindness or deterioration. The diagnosis phase of DR consumes more time, effort and cost when manually performed by ophthalmologists and more chances of misdiagnosis still there. Research community is working on to design computer aided diagnosis system for prior detection and for DR grading based on its severity. Ongoing researches in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have set out the advancement of deep learning technique which comes as a best technique to perform analysis and classification of medical images. In this paper, research is applied on Resnet50 model for classification of DR and DME based on its severity grading on public benchmark dataset. Transfer learning approach accomplishes the best outcome on Indian Diabetic Retinopathy Image Dataset (IDRiD).
The Pre-Operative GRADE Score Is Associated with 5-Year Survival among Older Patients with Cancer Undergoing Surgery

Simple Summary The benefit of major cancer surgery among older patients may be limited, and it remains unclear how to optimally select suitable patients. By combining very simple geriatric (gait speed, and weight loss) and cancer parameters (cancer site and cancer extension), the pre-operative GRADE score > 8 was significantly associated with severe post-operative complications, and overall post-operative mortality among older patients with digestive or non-breast gynaecological cancer undergoing surgery. At the time of the first consultation, the GRADE score could help surgeons to choose the most suitable treatment strategy, avoiding under- or over-treatment, especially when a geriatric assessment is not available. Abstract We aimed to assess the prognostic value of the pre-operative GRADE score for long-term survival among older adults undergoing major surgery for digestive or non-breast gynaecological cancers. Between 2013 and 2019, 136 consecutive older adults with cancer were prospectively recruited from the PF-EC cohort study before major cancer surgery and underwent a geriatric assessment. The GRADE score includes weight loss, gait speed at the threshold of 0.8 m/s, cancer site and cancer extension. The primary outcome was post-operative 5-year mortality. Patients were classified as low risk (GRADE ≤ 8) or high risk (GRADE > 8) on the basis of the median score. A Cox multivariate proportional hazards regression model was performed to assess the association between pre-operative factors and 5-year mortality expressed by adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and 95% CI. The median age was 80 years, 52% were men, 73% had colorectal cancer. The 30-day post-operative severe complication rate (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3) was 37%. The 5-year post-operative mortality rate was 34.5%. A GRADE score ≥ 8 (aHR = 2.64 [1.34–5.21], p = 0.0002) was associated with post-operative mortality after adjustment for Body Mass Index < 21 kg/m2 and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living <3/4. By combining very simple geriatric and cancer parameters, the pre-operative GRADE score provides a discriminant prognosis and could help to choose the most suitable treatment strategy for older cancer patients, avoiding under or over-treatment.
Impact of interconnect effects on broadband transimpedance amplifiers

A novel interconnect model is used in the postlayout simulation of a broadband transimpedance amplifier. Simulation results employing the proposed model are verified by on‐wafer measurement results. The impact of interconnect effects on the circuit performance is analyzed. The importance of incorporating an adequate interconnect model is demonstrated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 3017–3020, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23878
Rice Bran-Based Bioplastics: Effects of Biopolymer Fractions on Their Mechanical, Functional and Microstructural Properties

Rice bran is an underutilized by-product of rice production, containing proteins, lipids and carbohydrates (mainly starches). Proteins and starches have been previously used to produce rice bran-based bioplastics, providing a high-added-value by-product, while contributing to the development of biobased, biodegradable bioplastics. However, rice bran contains oil (18–22%), which can have a detrimental effect on bioplastic properties. Its extraction could be convenient, since rice bran oil is becoming increasingly attractive due to its variety of applications in the food, pharmacy and cosmetic industries. In this way, the aim of this work was to analyze the effect of the different components of rice bran on the final properties of the bioplastics. Rice bran refining was carried out by extracting the oil and fiber fractions, and the effects of these two procedures on the final properties were addressed with mechanical, functional and microstructural measures. Results revealed that defatted rice bran produced bioplastics with higher viscoelastic moduli and better tensile behavior while decreasing the water uptake capacity and the soluble matter loss of the samples. However, no significant improvements were observed for systems produced from fiber-free rice bran. The microstructures observed in the SEM micrographs matched the obtained results, supporting the conclusions drawn.
Fast turn around post process yield enhancement for custom VLSI foundries

An effective fast-turnaround postprocess yield-enhancement methodology for custom VLSI which has been developed using a static random access memory (SRAM) and a test element group (TEG) yield vehicle is described. The SRAM/TEG is combined on a single chip providing a unified process-control vehicle. Several examples of visual defect classification using SRAM failure analysis and nonvisual defect characterization from the electrical test monitors are presented. Application of the methodology to yield enhancement efforts for a 1.25- mu m process is presented showing excellent correlation of SRAM and custom circuit yields with a 100* defect density reduction over a two-year period. <<ETX>>
Dynamic and Wrench-Feasible Workspace Analysis of a Cable-Driven Parallel Robot Considering a Nonlinear Cable Tension Model

Cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs) have several advantages and have been widely used in many industrial fields, especially industrial applications that require high dynamics, high payload capacity, and a large workspace. In this study, a design model for a CDPR system was proposed, and kinematic and dynamic modeling of the system was performed. Experiments were carried out to identify the dynamic modulus of elastic cables based on the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) method. A modified kinematic equation considering cable nonlinear tension was developed to determine the optimal cable tension at each position of the end-effector, and the wrench-feasible workspace was analyzed at various motion accelerations. The simulation results show that the proposed CDPR system obtains a large workspace, and the overall workspace is satisfactory and unrestricted for moving ranges in directions limited by the X-axis and the Y-axis from −0.3 to 0.3 m and by the Z-axis from 0.1 to 0.7 m. The overall workspace was found to depend on the condition of acceleration as well as the moving ranges limited by the end-effector. With an increase in external acceleration, the cable tension distribution increased and reached a maximum in the case of 100 m/s2.
A concurrent triple‐band CMOS low noise amplifier for fourth generation applications

In this study, a concurrent triple‐band low noise amplifier (LNA) is designed for long term evolution (LTE), Mobile‐WiMAX (M‐WiMAX), and WiMAX services. The main topology of the proposed LNA is a cascode architecture with source degeneration using shunt resistive feedback topology for the triple‐resonance characteristic. The LNA is designed using a Taiwan Semiconduction Company (TSMC) 0.18 μm radio frequency CMOS process. To obtain the necessary gains over the operating frequency bands, a series LC branch is added in parallel with an inductor at the drain load of a single band LNA. The peak gains at LTE, M‐WiMAX, and WiMAX bands are 17.6, 14.7, and 14.5 dB, respectively, whereas dissipating 8 mA from a 1.4 V supply voltage. The average noise figure over the three operating frequency bands is 4.5 dB. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:415–418, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25743
Reduced insulation thickness for extruded medium-voltage power cable systems-cable performance and first network applications

Since the introduction of medium-voltage cables with extruded insulation, essential improvements in materials, design and technology have taken place resulting in a remarkable increase of the electrical and ageing performance. In spite of this technological progress, the specified insulation thickness has never been modified. The currently high safety margins and the increasing cost pressure lead to a study of whether a reduction of the insulation thickness would be possible today. This report presents the results of an investigation on cables with a 4 mm thickness of XLPE or EPR insulation in different designs (France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland) which were tested as 12/20 (24) kV cables. The use of such cables will require adapted accessories. Therefore system tests with slip-on and coldshrink joints and terminations were additionally performed. Finally a proposal for new dimensions of extruded medium-voltage cables is made and the first realisations in utility networks in Belgium and France are presented.
Big data analytics with applications

In this paper, recent developments on the Internet of Things (IoT) and its applications are surveyed, and the impact of newly developed Big Data (BD) on manufacturing information systems is especially discussed. Big Data analytics (BDA) has been identified as a critical technology to support data acquisition, storage, and analytics in data management systems in modern manufacturing. The purpose of the presented work is to clarify the requirements of predictive systems, and to identify research challenges and opportunities on BDA to support cloud-based information systems.
Multiband Fractal Antenna for Wireless Communication Systems for Emergency Management

This paper is aimed at proposing a multiband fractal antenna suitable for wireless communication systems devoted to emergency management. The synthesis of the antenna is carried out by means of an iterative procedure based on a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to identify the optimal descriptors of a perturbed Sierpinski geometry. The result is a miniaturized antenna exhibiting a good impedance matching within the Wi-Fi/WiMAX and Public Safety bands. The results from numerical validations and experimental tests are reported to demonstrate the effectiveness of the synthesized antenna as well as the reliability of the synthesis process.
THE USE OF THE RASCH MODEL IN ANALYSING THE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF STUDENTS’ COPING STRATEGY SCALE

This research is part of the standardization of the Students' Coping Strategy Scale (SCSS). This study aims to reveal the content validity, empirical validity, and reliability of the SCSS. The non-test instrument consisting of 42 statements from three dimensions: problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and seeking social support. Content validity analysis was carried out by experts to obtain Gregory's content validity coefficient, while the empirical validity and reliability analysis by empirically testing the instrument on 211 respondents and analyzed using the Rasch model approach. The results show that Gregory's content validity coefficient is 0.714, so it needs improvement on some items that are considered unsuitable. Empirical validity analysis using WINSTEPS software shows that three items do not fit the model. The reliability coefficient of the SCSS is 0.99. Thus, the remaining 39 items are appropriate to be used to measure students' coping strategies.
Design of Health Monitoring Platform Base on Medical Wisdom

This paper presents a system about health monitoring platform. The health monitoring platform design is based on the concept of medical wisdom, it achieves high degree of cooperation between patients and doctors by more intelligent, more comprehensive interconnection and more stable data transfer. There are two parts in the platform which are General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network module and monitoring and management system based on web. The implementation of the platform provides a convenient solution to telemedicine.
Research on Face Recognition Sports Intelligence Training Platform Based on Artificial Intelligence

With the application of artificial intelligence in many social fields, the research of human behavior recognition and non-contact detection of human physiological parameters based on face recognition and other technologies has developed rapidly, and the application of artificial intelligence in culture, sports and entertainment has also begun to rise. How to apply the existing mature technology to the sports intelligence training system taking table tennis as an example is a hot issue worthy of study. In this paper, a comprehensive intelligent table tennis training system and platform based on Convolutional Neural Network face recognition and face heart rate detection is designed, which is mainly used to solve the philosophical training problem in table tennis. In the system place, an identification cameras is set at the entrance of table tennis training places, which is used for table tennis players’ sign-in and training table number allocation, and an intelligent analysis cameras is set above each intelligent training table, which is used for detecting the face and heart rate of table tennis players. Each intelligent training platform consists of intelligent voice control unit, server, camera, industrial control computer, monitor and other terminal modules. The member data center constitutes the platform of intelligent table tennis training system.
Partial parallel interference cancellation and its modified adaptive implementation for MC-CDMA system

Partial parallel interference cancellation (PPIC) and its adaptive implementation are investigated in this paper. The concept and methodology of the adaptive PPIC implementation is borrowed from the DS-CDMA context. A modification for the adaptive version is also proposed which leads to less complexity and better performance. Different scenarios have been considered to fully investigate the performances in a range of system loading with different combinations of convolutional coding, turbo coding and constellation. The performances are provided in terms of BER, FER, number of active users and in presence of multipath fading channel. They are also compared with the performances of the Equal Gain Combining (EGC) detector. In the low to moderate loadings the PPIC achieves a good performance. High order modulations, on the other hand, deteriorate its performance.
A Novel Approach for Automatic Car Plate Detection and Recognition

The increasing number of cars inside cities creates problems in traffic control. This issue can be solved by implementing a computer-based automatic system known as the Automatic Car Plate Recognition System (ACPRS). The main purpose of the current paper is to propose an automatic system to detect, extract, segment, and recognize the car plate numbers in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). To do so, a frontal image of cars is captured and used as an input of the system. After applying the required pre-processing steps, the SURF descriptor is utilized to detect and extract the car plate from the whole input image. After segmentation of the extracted plate, an efficient projection-based technique is being exploited to describe the available digits and the city name of the registered car plate. The system is evaluated over 200 sample images, which are taken under various testing conditions. The best accuracy of the proposed system, under the controlled condition, shows the high performance and accuracy of the system which is 94%.
Towards a sustainable city: improving the sustainability of Cranberry Township

This research paper provides a project evaluation and impact assessment process for organisational sustainability that enables decision-makers to create a balance among their organisation's economic, environmental, and social objectives (the triple bottom line). The process is presented as a case study where Cranberry Township, a suburb of the City of Pittsburgh, is selected as the application organisation by collaborating with Sustainable Pittsburgh, a non-for-profit organisation in Pittsburgh region. In the context of knowledge-based development, utilising the analytic network process (ANP) as a decision support tool, the case study involves the evaluation and prioritisation of a set of alternative investment projects by the stakeholders in the township with respect to a predetermined sustainability criteria set. In addition to the ANP study results, the paper provides elaborate discussions and explanations on the development of the ANP model, details of stakeholder meetings, limitations of the proposed process and potential future research directions.
Transient Responses of Conventional Filters

Much of the tedium of filter design has been eliminated by previously published tabulations of element values, pole locations, polynomial coefficients, and similar data for several conventional types of filters. The transient responses of some of the same types of filters have been computed and plotted in this paper. The curves presented are the normalized impulse and step responses of the first ten orders of the low-pass and high-pass Butterworth (maximally-flat) and Tchebycheff (equal-ripple) types, with band-pass ripple of 0.5, 1, and 2 db for the latter, and the low-pass Bessel (maximally-flat time delay) type. The method of calculation of the responses is described in detail, and some interesting properties of the pole loci are explained. The calculations were performed with a digital computer.
Transient ratings of buried power cables. I. Historical perspective and mathematical model

The authors report the results of a recently completed major project on power cable transient calculations. It used a fundamental analytical method using a lumped parameter model for computation of transient ratings of buried power cables. An account is given for past work in the field of thermal transients in buried cables. A full description of the mathematical model is given. A summary of the state-of-the-art is provided. Developments relevant to the analysis of groups of unequally loaded and/or dissimilar cables and cables located in ductbanks or thermal backfills are presented. >
Comparative analysis of two L-carnitine preparations and their concentration effects on CAT expression in healthy human peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures

CAT gene encodes catalase, a key antioxidant enzyme in the body against oxidative stress. This enzyme plays an important role in the molecular mechanisms of inflammation, apoptosis, mutagenesis and tumorigenesis. Anti-oxidant L-carnitine is used in food supplementation, medical co-treatment and bodyweight regulation. We aimed to investigate molecular basis of L-carnitine commercial preparations supplementation in reducing oxidative stress with customized CAT gene assay in vitro. Human lymphocytes cell culture was established using standard procedure and treated with range of concentrations of L-carnitine in two preparations. We tested two preparations: 500 mg tablets of L-carnitine and liquid L-carnitine with vitamin B6. L-carnitine significantly reduced the expression of CAT gene in cultured lymphocytes at concentrations of 50 μmol/l and 250 μmol/l compared to negative control, (p = 0,001; p = 0,001; respectively). The L-carnitine liquid supplement with vitamin B6 also reduced the transcription of CAT gene at concentrations of 50 μmol/l and 250 μmol/l as compared to the negative control (p = 0,018; p = 0,006; respectively). Selected L-carnitine preparations modulated the transcriptional activity of the antioxidant enzyme gene in human lymphocyte culture, indicating its possible effects in inhibition of pro-inflammatory processes that involve catalase activity.
Fit between Organization Design and Organizational Routines

Despite decades of research on both organization design and organizational routines, little research has analyzed the relationship between them. Here we propose a normative theory in which the effectiveness of organization design and redesign depends on the characteristics of routines. The analysis shows which types of organization designs may be useful as well as which design changes may or may not succeed depending on (a) the specificity of routines and (b) the dynamic versus static purposes of organizational routines.
Measured Data Correction for Improved Fouling and Degradation Analysis of Offshore Gas Turbines

The authors suggest a straightforward methodology to correct measurement data in order to facilitate condition assessment of gas turbines. After data being prepared as such, a considerable improvement in accuracy is obtained in regard to condition evaluation of the machine. Such methodology brings proven benefits when regarding the fouling problem as well as washing scheduling at sites where the fouling process is relatively slow, e.g. offshore applications. Analyses of other relatively slow performance loss processes, like degradation, are also targeted. The usefulness of the methodology is validated against field data by employing advanced software tools and reliability and availability as well as condition and lifing prediction.
Nanomaterials for Remediation of Environmental Pollutants

Today, environmental contamination is a big concern for both developing and developed countries. The primary sources of contamination of land, water, and air are extensive industrialization and intense agricultural activities. Various traditional methods are available for the treatment of different pollutants in the environment, but all have some limitations. Due to this, an alternative method is required which is effective and less toxic and provides better outcomes. Nanomaterials have attracted a lot of interest in terms of environmental remediation. Because of their huge surface area and related high reactivity, nanomaterials perform better in environmental clean-up than other conventional approaches. They can be modified for specific uses to provide novel features. Due to the large surface-area-to-volume ratio and the presence of a larger number of reactive sites, nanoscale materials can be extremely reactive. These characteristics allow for higher interaction with contaminants, leading to a quick reduction of contaminant concentration. In the present review, an overview of different nanomaterials that are potential in the remediation of environmental pollutants has been discussed.