Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thickened 2 D Networks for 3 D Medical Image Segmentation

There has been a debate in medical image segmentation on whether to use 2D or 3D networks, where both pipelines have advantages and disadvantages. This paper presents a novel approach which thickens the input of a 2D network, so that the model is expected to enjoy both the stability and efficiency of 2D networks as well as the ability of 3D networks in modeling volumetric contexts. A major information loss happens when a large number of 2D slices are fused at the first convolutional layer, resulting in a relatively weak ability of the network in distinguishing the difference among slices. To alleviate this drawback, we propose an effective framework which (i) postpones slice fusion and (ii) adds highway connections from the pre-fusion layer so that the prediction layer receives slice-sensitive auxiliary cues. Experiments on segmenting a few abdominal targets in particular blood vessels which require strong 3D contexts demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
Experimental Methods of Validation for Numerical Simulation Results on Steel Flow through Tundish

The specificity of operation of metallurgical reactors being characterized, among other, by: high temperature, aggressive environment, isolation of working areas in the reactor, potential risk for researchers conducting experimental tests, high costs associated with possibility of jeopardizing, caused by disturbances in the technology and excessive breakage, etc.; these are basic factors that often prevent from performing research tests in industrial conditions and justify utilization of model-based tests. Therefore, physical modelling is an important research and cognitive tool in terms of empirical identification and analysis of phenomena occurring in metallurgical reactors. Dynamic development of numerical modelling techniques, the accessibility to highly advanced and specialized software, and significant raise of processing capabilities of computer devices have led to the situation that numerical studies are commonly used for solving metallurgical problems by using analytical methods. The advancement in steel smelting and casting technology driven mostly by increasing customer demands requires a constant deepening of knowledge about phenomena occurring in the course of metallurgical processes and more and more precise identification of parameters that control these processes. Due to this reason, at this stage of the study, it is impossible to employ explicitly a single modelling technique in the research process on numerous phenomena. Thus, in the Institute of Metals Technology at the Silesian University of Technology, the Model-based Testing Laboratory being established many years ago – was modernized to facilitate implementation of the method based on hybrid modelling, and this significantly improved research capabilities of the laboratory. The research works published in this scope of research study generally concern the problem of identifying hydrodynamic phenomena, which are present during performance of various metallurgical processes acting on liquid steel. The rules governing implementation of similarity factors between the model and industrial objects are in the field of applied mathematics, commonly known as similarity theory. Therefore, both physical as well as numerical models are based on mathematical models. Mathematical modelling consists of describing the investigated phenomena as mathematical symbols and dependencies (functions) and determining principles for controlling them. In the case of solving hydrodynamic problems related to liquid steel flow in metallurgical reactors, the basic mathematics model is based on the Navier–Stokes equations and the continuity equation [1-2], expressed by the formulas:
An introduction to the theory of diffusive shock acceleration of energetic particles in tenuous plasmas

The central idea of diffusive shock acceleration is presented from microscopic and macroscopic viewpoints; applied to reactionless test particles in a steady plane shock the mechanism is shown to produce a power law spectrum in momentum with a slope which, to lowest order in the ratio of plasma to particle speed, depends only on the compression in the shock. The associated time scale is found (also by a macroscopic and a microscopic method) and the problems of spherical shocks, as exemplified by a point explosion and a stellar-wind terminator, are treated by singular perturbation theory. The effect of including the particle reaction is then studied. It is shown that if the scattering is due to resonant waves these can rapidly grow with unknown consequences. The possible steady modified shock structures are classified and generalised Rankine-Hugoniot conditions found. Modifications of the spectrum are discussed on the basis of an exact, if rather artificial, solution, a high-energy asymptotic expansion and a perturbation expansion due to Blandford. It is pointed out that no steady solution can exist for very strong shocks; the possible time dependence is briefly discussed.
Processing Strategy and Comparative Performance of Different Mobile LiDAR System Grades for Bridge Monitoring: A Case Study

Collecting precise as-built data is essential for tracking construction progress. Three-dimensional models generated from such data capture the as-is conditions of the structures, providing valuable information for monitoring existing infrastructure over time. As-built data can be acquired using a wide range of remote sensing technologies, among which mobile LiDAR is gaining increasing attention due to its ability to collect high-resolution data over a relatively large area in a short time. The quality of mobile LiDAR data depends not only on the grade of onboard LiDAR scanners but also on the accuracy of direct georeferencing information and system calibration. Consequently, millimeter-level accuracy is difficult to achieve. In this study, the performance of mapping-grade and surveying-grade mobile LiDAR systems for bridge monitoring is evaluated against static laser scanners. Field surveys were conducted over a concrete bridge where grinding was required to achieve desired smoothness. A semi-automated, feature-based fine registration strategy is proposed to compensate for the impact of georeferencing and system calibration errors on mobile LiDAR data. Bridge deck thickness is evaluated using surface segments to minimize the impact of inherent noise in the point cloud. The results show that the two grades of mobile LiDAR delivered thickness estimates that are in agreement with those derived from static laser scanning in the 1 cm range. The mobile LiDAR data acquisition took roughly five minutes without having a significant impact on traffic, while the static laser scanning required more than three hours.
Measurement of the top Yukawa Coupling at a 1 TeV International Linear Collider using the SiD detector

One of the detector benchmark processes investigated for the SiD Detailed Baseline Design (DBD) is given by: e+e- -> ttH, where H is the Standard Model Higgs boson of mass 125 GeV. The study is carried out at a centre-of-mass energy of 1 TeV and assuming an integrated luminosity of 1 ab-1. The physics aim is a direct measurement of the top Yukawa coupling at the ILC. Higgs boson decays to beauty quark-antiquark pairs are reconstructed. The investigated final states contain eight jets or six jets, one charged lepton and missing energy. Additionally, four of the jets in signal events are caused by beauty quark decays. The analysis is based on a full simulation of the SiD detector using GEANT4. Beam-related backgrounds from gammagamma -> hadrons interactions and incoherent e+e- pairs are considered. This study addresses various aspects of the detector performance: jet clustering in complex hadronic final states, flavour-tagging and the identification of high energy leptons.
Local units modulo circular units

In his paper, Some Modules in the Theorv of Cyclotomic Fields [2], Iwasawa obtained the remarkable theorem that the quotient of the p-adic cyclotomic units by the completion of the circular units is isomorphic to the quotient of the group ring by the Stickleberger ideal. He then used this to deduce some interesting global results, the most striking of which is an explanation of the plus part of the analytic class number formula under the assumption that the class group at the first layer is cyclic, together with a regularity assumption. In this note, we will show how with the results in our paper, Division Values in Local Fields [1], it is now possible to give a substantially simpler proof of the above theorem. We also describe, briefly, how one can obtain various global results of Iwasawa from this Theorem, which are not included in either Lang's [3], or Washington's [4] books. I. Notation. Let Qp((T)) denote the ring of Laurent series with finite poles over Qp. Let Qp((T)), and Qp[[T]], denote the subrings of Qp((T)) consisting of power series which converge on the punctured open unit ball and on the open unit ball respectively. Let Zp((T)) denote the subring of Qp((T)) with integer coefficients and Zp[[T]] the ring Zp((T)) n Qp[[T]],. Let S and DL denote the trace and norm operators defined in [1] on Qp((T)), and Zp((T))* respectively. They are characterized by the formulas (1) 5(g)(l(I -T)p) = ]Eg(l (l -T)), (2) DL(f)(I (I-T)p) = Ilf(I t(l-T))l where ; runs over the pth roots of unity tp. Let [a](T) = 1 -(1-T) 9g go [p], D (I T) dT f Df for g FE Qp[[T]] l andf E Z ((T))* We then have the identities (3) SLog(f) Log(Lf), (4) SDg = pD$g, (5) 58(h) = p89(h), (6) ST(g) = Pm Received by the editors September 20, 1982 and, in revised form, December 20, 1982. 1980 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 12A35. (1983 American Mathematical Society 0002-9939/82/0000-1451 /$03.00
Are telecommunication and media converging ? : the change in the production and distribution model of audio-video contents

Dans ces dernieres annees nous assistons a l’emergence de nouvelles licences, les Creative Commons (CC), qui derivent du monde du logiciel libre et qui ont pour but de partager les œuvres artistiques (videos, musique, etc.) entre les utilisateurs. Cette these est consacree a l’etude des videos qu'utilisent ces licences. En particulier cette these se concentre sur trois aspects de la production de videos sous licences CC : les choix judicieux du degre d'ouverture de la licence, la strategie de financer et de mener l’innovation et le chemin qui determine le succes des projets. Tout d’abord, pour enqueter sur ce qui est le choix judicieux entre les differents degres d'ouverture dans les licences CC, nous avons conduit une analyse econometrique (approche quantitative) sur des videos sous licences CC stockees sur l'Internet Archive. Les resultats de cette etude suggerent que, dans le but d'attirer les contributions des utilisateurs, les producteurs utilisent differents degres d'ouverture de licences en fonction de leur statut organisationnel. Ensuite, pour etudier la strategie de financer et de diriger l’innovation generee par les utilisateurs, nous avons conduit une etude de cas (approche qualitative) concernant un video produite sous licence CC, Big Buck Bunny. Les resultats suggerent que les utilisateurs peuvent etre utilises en tant que source de financement de la production et comme partenaires pour innover. Enfin, pour etudier le chemin et les caracteristiques des projets qui arrivent a etre produit, nous avons cree un modele multi-agent, capable de reproduire les faits stylises de la production de videos sous CC stockees sur une plate-forme en ligne.
Vehicle Detection Method based on Adap-tive Background Updating Algorithm

This paper mainly researches and simulates the adaptive background updating algorithm based on Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) in video vehicle detection, and it researches on some methods to extract the foreground. Frame difference method uses the brightness difference of two consecutive frames to analysis the motion characteristics and the approximate location and shape. The improved mage compensate method combines binary video and edge video. And by judging district size, erosion and dilation, disturbing lanes and noise points are successfully removed.
Two Proofs of the Existence and Uniqueness of the Partial Fraction Decomposition

Two proofs of the existence and uniqueness of the partial fraction decomposition of a (real) rational function are presented. The first proof of existence and uniqueness uses only elementary facts from linear algebra. The second existence proof uses the Euclidean algorithm and applies to all Euclidean domains. While existence can be proven for any Euclidean domain, additional hypotheses are required to establish uniqueness. The second uniqueness proof applies to polynomials with arbitrary field coefficients as well as the ring of integers. A partial fraction decompostion contains a whole and a fractional part. We show that the whole part will vanish for proper fractions of polynomials with field coefficients. In the final section we present a method which uses the partial fraction decomposition to solve linear differential equations with constant coefficients. Then we show how the partial fraction decomposition gives a refinement of Chinese remaindering which in turn proves the existence of Hermite interpolation polynomials.
THE INFLUENCE OF MATTERING ON WOMEN’S PERCEIVED FAIRNESS OF THE DIVISION OF HOUSEHOLD LABOR

Susan Brown, Advisor Prior research has shown that more than two-thirds of married women feel the division of household labor is fair although they perform most of the household labor (Thompson 1991, Major 1993). Thompson applied the distributive justice approach to understand women’s perceived fairness of the division of household labor. The present study extends this line of inquiry by introducing the concept of mattering, which refers to the level of care perceived by spouses, and examining its influence on perceived fairness of the division of household labor. Contrary to prior research which focuses exclusively on emotions surrounding household labor (Thompson 1991, Hawkins et al. 1995), the concept of mattering as used in this research addresses the emotional dynamics among married couples in the broader context of the marital relationship. Thus, mattering is an innovative approach to understand women’s perceived fairness of the division of household labor. Using data on married women from the Marital Instability over the Life Course (2003, Wave six, N = 489), this research analyzes (1) whether wives’ perceptions of how their husbands matter to them are positively associated with their perceived fairness of the division of household labor, (2) whether wives’ perceptions of how they matter to their husbands are positively associated with perceived fairness of the division of household labor, (3) whether the two types of mattering have independent relationships with women’s fairness perceptions, and (4) whether the two types of mattering have a positive interactive effect on wives’ perceived fairness of the household division of labor. This research finds that the more a wife believes she matters to her husband, the more likely she is to perceive
WAVE AND CURRENT FORECAST SYSTEM FOR THE MOUTH OF THE FRASER RIVER

The Fraser River, the largest river in British Columbia, discharges into the Strait of Georgia in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the direction of tidal currents and winds in the Strait. Consequently, the wave field in the vicinity of the river mouth is changed considerably due to wave-current interactions. Because of concerns regarding navigational safety, prompted in part by a vessel capsize in 2002, MSC obtained funding under the SAR program to develop a forecast system for waves in this region, to be incorporated into the local marine forecast.
Thermodynamic Stability, Thermoelectric, Elastic and Electronic Structure Properties of ScMN2-Type (M = V, Nb, Ta) Phases Studied by ab initio Calculations

ScMN2-type (M = V, Nb, Ta) phases are layered materials that have been experimentally reported for M = Ta and Nb, but they have up to now not been much studied. However, based on the properties of binary ScN and its alloys, it is reasonable to expect these phases to be of relevance in a range of applications, including thermoelectrics. Here, we have used first-principles calculations to study their thermodynamic stability, elastic, thermoelectric and electronic properties. We have used density functional theory to calculate lattice parameters, the mixing enthalpy of formation and electronic density of states as well as the thermoelectric properties and elastic constants (cij), bulk (B), shear (G) and Young’s (E) modulus, which were compared with available experimental data. Our results indicate that the considered systems are thermodynamically and elastically stable and that all are semiconductors with small band gaps. All three materials display anisotropic thermoelectric properties and indicate the possibility to tune these properties by doping. In particular, ScVN2, featuring the largest band gap exhibits a particularly large and strongly doping-sensitive Seebeck coefficient.
DACA and Educational Restrictions in South Carolina: A Continuation of White Supremacy

ABSTRACT Though great focus has been placed on DACA on the national level, many of the actual experiences of Dreamers in regard to education and employment licensure depend on state policies. South Carolina is one of the most restrictive states in regard to rights for DACA recipients. In light of these realities, this mixed-methods study examines the views and awareness of South Carolina teachers toward DACA and the stories of three educators/prospective educators with DACA status who were denied the chance to teach in the state due to their immigration status. The central argument that emerges is that South Carolina is continuing in a similar pattern of white supremacy and antagonism that has been central throughout its history. However, this exclusive stance is now being particularly directed toward Dreamers and immigrants more broadly. The findings reveal a disconnect between state policies and the views of state teachers. They also show a level of disbelief and frustration among Dreamers affected by the restrictions. Overall, the self-defeating nature of xenophobic and white supremacist policies becomes clear. In the case of South Carolina, it means further damaging an already wavering education system.
Improved Dimension Reduction With Modified Diffusion Maps

The task of representing the higher dimensional data into lower dimension while preserving the relative information, previously was done by principle component analysis, factor analysis, or feature selection. However if original lower dimensional data is embedded in high dimensional space, then approach based on manifold learning and graph theory allow to learn underlying geometry of data. One of such technique is Diffusion Maps. It preserves the local proximity between the data points by first constructing a representation for underlying manifold. In this paper, binary classification problem using Diffusion Map to embed the data with various kernel representations is targeted. Results show that specific kernels are well suited for Diffusion Map applications on some feature sets and in general some kernels are outperform the standard Gaussian and Polynomial kernels, on several of the higher dimensional data sets. Keywords—diffusion maps, dimension rectuction, diffusion kernels
Convolutional Neural Networks for Crystal Material 
Property Prediction Using Hybrid Orbital-Field 
Matrix and Magpie Descriptors

Computational prediction of crystal materials properties can help to do large-scale insiliconscreening. Recent studies of material informatics have focused on expert design of multidimensionalinterpretable material descriptors/features. However, successes of deep learning suchas Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) in image recognition and speech recognition havedemonstrated their automated feature extraction capability to effectively capture the characteristicsof the data and achieve superior prediction performance. Here, we propose CNN-OFM-Magpie, aCNN model with OFM (Orbital-field Matrix) and Magpie descriptors to predict the formationenergy of 4030 crystal material by exploiting the complementarity of two-dimensional OFM featuresand Magpie features. Experiments showed that our method achieves better performance thanconventional regression algorithms such as support vector machines and Random Forest. It is alsobetter than CNN models using only the OFM features, the Magpie features, or the basic one-hotencodings. This demonstrates the advantages of CNN and feature fusion for materials propertyprediction. Finally, we visualized the two-dimensional OFM descriptors and analyzed the featuresextracted by the CNN to obtain greater understanding of the CNN-OFM model.
Toward Certification of Machine-Learning Systems for Low Criticality Airborne Applications

The exceptional progress in the field of machine learning (ML) in recent years has attracted a lot of interest in using this technology in aviation. Possible airborne applications of ML include safety-critical functions, which must be developed in compliance with rigorous certification standards of the aviation industry. Current certification standards for the aviation industry were developed prior to the ML renaissance without taking specifics of ML technology into account. There are some fundamental incompatibilities between traditional design assurance approaches and certain aspects of ML-based systems. In this paper, we analyze the current airborne certification standards and show that all objectives of the standards can be achieved for a low-criticality ML-based system if certain assumptions about ML development workflow are applied.
OPTIMIZATION OF THE BIOAGENT Bacillus subtilis BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND ANTIBOSIS AGAINST Acremonium strictum

All A. stritum strains, isolated from grain sorghum plants showing Acremonium wilt disease symptoms, varied in their virulence on both tested grain sorghum genotype with the superiority of strain No. 2. Among 5 different recommended media, King's medium was the most favorable one for propagation and highest antagonistic activity of Bacillus subtilis , previously isolated from rhizosphere of resistant grain sorghum cultivar (Dorado) against A. strictum . The optimum environmental conditions needed for B. subtilis to give maximum antagonistic efficiency against A. strictum were 48h incubation period, 30-35 o C incubation temperature and pH 7.0. in shake-flask submerged culture. Sucrose (9.0 g.l -1 ) and KNO 3 (20 g.l -1 ) were the best carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Utilization of agro-industrial wastes for B. subtilis propagation in modified King's medium showed that glucose syrup and corn steep liquor as cheap carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively supported the highest antagonistic potential of B. subtilis using shake-flask submerged culture.