Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Integration-Friendly Regrowth-Free Tunable Laser

This letter presents a single-mode tunable laser operating in the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-band. The facetless design, along with a regrowth-free fabrication that does not require high-resolution lithography techniques, contributes to make the laser a suitable candidate for monolithic integration with other components. Tuning is demonstrated over a range of 47 nm, with side-mode suppression ratio values over 30 dB and a linewidth of 800 kHz.
Architecture for multi-camera vision system for automated measurement of automotive components

This paper proposes the architecture of a multi-view cameras system with the purpose of online dimensional measuring of automotive components, specifically crankshafts. The introduction of a measuring vision system in a production line allows the dimensional quality control of all manufactured items, helping to optimize the process. The system consists of six digital cameras, positioned around the object, capturing different perspective images of the product. Processing of the images yields results of precise dimensional measurements of the product. The paper presents the ideas and algorithms used in the proposed measurement system, and virtual images simulation to access its operational and precision characteristics.
Lactation curve of Beetal goats in Pakistan

Abstract. This study was accomplished with the objective to determine parameters of lactation curves in Beetal goats using Wood’s model. Therefore, milk yield data on 127 Beetal goats maintained at five different government farms were recorded from post-kidding to drying off of does. Wood model parameters were estimated using non-linear regression and individual curves were fitted. The characteristics/parameters of lactation curve were computed. The mean initial yield »a«, rate of increase »b« and rate of decline »c« parameters in Wood’s model for Beetal were 1,214.97, 0.3690 and 0.1196, respectively with R2 value of 98.2 %. The value of percent squared bias (PSB) and the persistency were 0.13 and 60.2%, respectively with mean square error value of 38.45. Flock effect was a significant (P
Yersinia pestis Survival and Replication in Potential Ameba Reservoir

Plague ecology is characterized by sporadic epizootics, then periods of dormancy. Building evidence suggests environmentally ubiquitous amebae act as feral macrophages and hosts to many intracellular pathogens. We conducted environmental genetic surveys and laboratory co-culture infection experiments to assess whether plague bacteria were resistant to digestion by 5 environmental ameba species. First, we demonstrated that Yersinia pestis is resistant or transiently resistant to various ameba species. Second, we showed that Y. pestis survives and replicates intracellularly within Dictyostelium discoideum amebae for ˃48 hours postinfection, whereas control bacteria were destroyed in <1 hour. Finally, we found that Y. pestis resides within ameba structures synonymous with those found in infected human macrophages, for which Y. pestis is a competent pathogen. Evidence supporting amebae as potential plague reservoirs stresses the importance of recognizing pathogen-harboring amebae as threats to public health, agriculture, conservation, and biodefense.
Improvement of energy efficiency using pdorp protocol in WSN

Wireless Sensor Networks are battery driven and there is limited battery lifetime. It is not possible to change battery of WSN, as sometimes the nodes are deployed in regions, where it is difficult to reach frequently. Some of the energy efficient routing protocols of WSN are discussed. But energy consumption can be reduced by decreasing packet overhead caused by updating routing table frequently. PEGASIS (Power Efficient Gathering in Sensor Information System) protocol which is somewhat energy efficient is combined with DSR(Dynamic Source Routing), which uses GA and BFO to find the optimal path.
Frequency synthesis for 60-GHz OFDM transceivers

We present an integer-N PLL architecture for 60 GHz OFDM systems compatible with the IEEE 802.15. 3c channel plan. Based on a sliding-IF architecture using a 48 GHz voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and a 19.2 MHz crystal reference, we predict an rms phase error below three degree after correction of the common phase error. This will enable a silicon-based low-cost millimetre-wave transceiver for Gbps OFDM transmission. Requirements for the crystal noise floor and the VCO phase noise are also formulated.
A novel trypsin inhibitor from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) leaves and its synthesized peptides with antioxidant activities in vitro

Recombinant SPLTI-a [sweet potato leaf trypsin inhibitor-a] overproduced in E. coli (M15) was purified by Ni(superscript 2+)-chelated affinity chromatography. The molecular mass of SPLTI-a is ca. 8000 Da as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). SPLTI-a was examined using different antioxidative models (Total antioxidant status, reducing power method, Fe(superscript 2+)-chelating ability, ferric thiocyanate (FTC) method, and protecting calf thymus DNA against hydroxyl radical-induced damage). The SPLTI-a protein with a concentration of 100 μg/mL exhibited highest activity (expressed as 2.12 ± 0.02 mM Trolox equivalent antioxidative value, TEAC) in total antioxidant status test. Like total antioxidant status, the reducing power, Fe(superscript 2+)-chelating ability, FTC activity and protecting calf thymus DNA against hydroxyl radical- induced damage all showed that SPLTI-a polypeptide has significant antioxidant activities. It was found that the antioxidant activity increased after 24 h hydrolysis of SPLTI-a by trypsin from 18% (0 h) to about 35% (24 h). Accumulation of shorter peptides increased along the longer trypsin incubation. The obtained VR, STIEK, ITDGK, and EYIFDR showed IC50 (concentration for 50% inhibition) values of 5.83, 3.75, 2.65, and 0.73 mM, respectively, when scavenging activity of DPPH radicals (%) was measured. These findings mean that tyrosine residue is most important in antiradical activities. It was suggested that SPLTI-a possess antioxidant activities.
High-order FDTD and auxiliary differential equation formulation of optical pulse propagation in 2-D Kerr and Raman nonlinear dispersive media

We reformulate the existing auxiliary differential equation (ADE) technique in the context of the finite-difference time-domain analysis of Maxwell's equations for the modeling of optical pulse propagation in linear Lorentz and nonlinear Kerr and Raman media. Our formulation is based on the polarization terms and allows simple and consistent implementation of such media together with the anisotropic perfectly matched layer (APML) absorbing boundary condition. The disadvantages of the ADE technique, i.e., requiring additional storage for auxiliary variables, has been overcome by adopting the high-order finite-difference schemes derived from the previously reported wavelet-based formulation. With those techniques, we demonstrate in two-dimensional setting an effective and accurate numerical analysis of the spatio-temporal soliton propagation as a consequence of the physically originated balanced phenomena between the self-focusing effect of nonlinearity and the pulse broadening effects of the temporal dispersion and of the spatial diffraction.
Simplified Weight Function for Calculating Stress Intensity Factor in Complicated Stress Distributions

Calculation of a stress intensity factor becomes more difficult when crack are subjected to a complicated stress distribution profile. A standard procedure called influence coefficients is inadequate, because a stress profile may not be accurately represented by a polynomial function. This paper applies a piecewise linear approximation of stress profile and a weight function method to overcome that restriction. However, the typical adopted weight function, i.e. universal weight function, is replaced by a weight function, in which its form coincides with the analytical form. Although a new weight function consists of lesser number of terms, it is proved to be accurate when applies to a cracked-cylinder problem, e.g. internal part-through circumferential crack and internal fully circumferential crack under various complicated weld residual stress profiles. Using this simpler weight function and linearized approximation scheme led to a closed-form stress intensity factor solution, which is convenient for programming.
CONFIGURATION AND SPECIFICATIONS OF AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE FOR PRECISION AGRICULTURE

Abstract. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with multispectral sensors are increasingly attractive in geosciences for data capture and map updating at high spatial and temporal resolutions. These autonomously-flying systems can be equipped with different sensors, such as a six-band multispectral camera (Tetracam mini-MCA-6), GPS Ublox M8N, and MEMS gyroscopes, and miniaturized sensor systems for navigation, positioning, and mapping purposes. These systems can be used for data collection in precision viticulture. In this study, the efficiency of a light UAV system for data collection, processing, and map updating in small areas is evaluated, generating correlations between classification maps derived from remote sensing and production maps. Based on the comparison of the indices derived from UAVs incorporating infrared sensors with those obtained by satellites (Sentinel 2A and Landsat 8), UAVs show promise for the characterization of vineyard plots with high spatial variability, despite the low vegetative coverage of these crops. Consequently, a procedure for zoning map production based on UAV/UV images could provide important information for farmers.
Pomološke i hemijske osobine ploda nekih sorti krušaka gajenih u uslovima Bratunca

U radu su prikazani rezultati proucavanja nekih od pomoloskih osobina (masa, dužina i sirina ploda, indeks oblika ploda, dužinu peteljke, broj i masa sjemenki) i hemijskih osobina (rastvorljiva suva materija, ukupni i invertni seceri, saharoza, ukupne kiseline, pH vrijednost) sorti kruske Junska ljepotica, Santa Marija i Vilijamovka. Proucavanja su obavljena tokom 2011. godine u agroekoloskim uslovima Bratunca. Namjera nam je bila da se na osnovu dobijenih pokazatelja, ocijeni uspjesnost gajenja navedenih sorti u pomenutom podrucju. Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata najbolje privredno-bioloske osobine pokazale su sorte Junska ljepotica i Vilijamovka, za razliku od Santa Marije. Može se konstatovati da je gajenje ovih dveju sorti u uslovima Bratunca, opravdano i ekonomski isplativo, sa tendencijom povecanja proizvodnih povrsina u pomenutom podrucju.
Enhanced Performance of Narrowband Millimeter-Wave Generation Using Shaped-Pulse-Excited Photonic Transmitters

We demonstrate a novel method to greatly enhance the narrowband millimeter-wave (MMW) power generation by use of a near-ballistic uni-traveling-carrier photodiode-based photonic transmitter (PT) excited by shaped optical pulses. The spectrum of the best tailored optical pulses is centered at 1545 nm and spread among 16 main frequency components (channels), each with a spectral width of 15.5 GHz and a spacing of 93 GHz. Compared with quasi-sinusoidal optical modulation, we achieve an enhancement in the spectral power density by ~25 times. The power-enhanced narrowband MMW signal can be tuned over ~80 GHz (60-142 GHz). In addition, we observe significant enhancement of MMW peak power with an increase of the reverse bias voltage.
Quantifying uncertainties for emissions targets

What is the magnitude of uncertainties about future greenhouse gas emissions, GDP and emissions intensity of economies? Is there a link between fluctuations in economic activity and fluctuations in emissions? These questions are crucial to understand the extent and composition of cost uncertainty under emissions trading schemes, the degree to which it can be reduced by mechanism design options such as intensity targets, and for calibrating models of emissions trading under uncertainty. This paper provides empirical analyses, using historical emissions data in forecast models and in country-level analysis over time. The results indicate that uncertainty about future energy sector CO2 emissions and emissions intensity is greater than uncertainty about future GDP; that uncertainties are greater in non-OECD than in OECD countries; and that there is a strong positive correlation between fluctuations in GDP and fluctuations in CO2 emissions, but not in all cases and not outside the energy sector.
An Autonomous Waist-Mounted Pedestrian Dead Reckoning System by Coupling Low-Cost MEMS Inertial Sensors and GPS Receiver for 3D Urban Navigation

Global positioning system (GPS) offers a perfect solution to the 3-dimension(3D) navigation. However, the GPS-only solution can’t provide continuous and accurate position information in the unfavourable environments, such as urban canyons, indoor buildings, dense foliages due to signal blockage, interference, or jamming etc. A pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) system integrating the self-contained inertial sensors with GPS receiver is proposed to provide a seamless outdoor/indoor 3D pedestrian navigation. The MEM sensor module attached to the user’s waist is composed of a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis gyroscope, a 3-axis digital compass and a barometric pressure sensor, which doesn’t rely on any infrastructure. The positioning algorithm implements a loosely coupled GPS/PDR integration. The sensor data are fused via a complementary filter to reduce the integral drift and magnetic disturbance for accurate heading. The four key components of the PDR algorithm: step detection, stride length estimation, heading and position determination are described in detail and implemented by the microcontroller. The step is detected using the accelerometer signals by the combination of three approaches: sliding window, peak detection and zero-crossing. The step length is estimated using a simple linear relationship with the step frequency. By coupling the step length, azimuth and height, 3D navigation is achieved. The performance of the proposed system is carefully verified through several field outdoor and indoor walking tests. The positioning errors are below 3% of the total traveled distance. The main error source comes from the orientation estimation. The results indicate that the proposed system is effective in accurate tracking.
Comparing Variabilities in Clinical Research

In most clinical trials comparing a test drug and a control (e.g., a placebo control or an active control), treatment effect is usually established by comparing mean response change from baseline of some primary study endpoints assuming that their corresponding variabilities are comparable. In practice, however, variabilities associated with the test drug and the control could be very different. When the variability of the test drug is much larger than that of the reference drug, safety of the test drug could be a concern. Thus, in addition to comparing mean responses between treatments, it is also of interest to compare the variabilities associated with the responses between treatments. In practice, the variabilities associated with the response are usually classified into two categories, namely, the intrasubject (or within-subject) variability and the intersubject (or between-subjects) variability. Intrasubject variability refers to the variability observed from repeated measurements from the same subject under the same experimental condition. On the other hand, intersubject variability is the variability due to the heterogeneity among subjects. The total variability is simply the sum of the intraand intersubject variabilities. In practice, it is of interest to test for equality, noninferiority/superiority, and similarity (or equivalence) between treatments in terms of the intrasubject, intersubject, and/or total variabilities. Under a replicated parallel design, the usual F-test can be performed to compare intrasubject variabilities. Under a replicated crossover design, Chinchilli and Esinhart proposed the F-test using an orthogonal transformation to test for difference in intrasubject variability between treatments. Under replicated parallel designs, however, intersubject and total variabilities between two treatments cannot be compared by the usual F-test because the distribution of estimators does not follow a chi-square distribution. In these cases, the modified large sample (MLS) method is suggested (see, e.g., Refs. [2–5]). The MLS method is shown to be superior to the other approximation methods in practice. Under a replicated crossover design, the MLS method is not appropriate to compare intersubject and total variabilities because estimators of variance components are not independent. Lee et al. extend the MLS method when estimators of variance components are dependent. In addition, Lee et al. study a test for comparing intersubject and total variabilities under replicated crossover designs based on the extension of the MLS method. In practice, instead of comparing intrasubject variabilities, it may be of interest to compare intrasubject coefficient of variation (CV). In recent years, the use of intrasubject CV has become popular when assessing the reproducibility, similarity, and stability of a drug product when the drug product is repeatedly administered over a period of time. In this entry, we will discuss two statistical methods by Chow and Tse and Quan and Shih.
HOX gene analysis in the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have the capacity to differentiate into osteoblasts during osteogenesis. Several studies attempted to identify osteogenesis-related genes in hMSCs. Although HOX genes are known to play a pivotal role in skeletogenesis, their function in the osteogenesis of hMSCs has not yet been investigated in detail. Our aim was to characterize the expression of 37 HOX genes by multiplex RT-PCR to identify the ones most probably involved in osteogenic differentiation. The results showed that the expression patterns of four HOX genes were altered during this process. In particular, the expression levels of HOXC13 and HOXD13 were dramatically changed. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were performed in order to further analyze the expression of HOXC13 and HOXD13. The qRT-PCR results showed that transcription of HOXC13 was up-regulated by up to forty times, whereas that of HOXD13 was down-regulated by approximately five times after osteogenic differentiation. The Western blot results for the HOXC13 and HOXD13 proteins also corresponded well with the real-time PCR result. These findings suggest that HOXC13 and HOXD13 might be involved in the osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs.
Performance analysis of multi-radio routing protocol in cognitive radio ad hoc networks under different path failure rate

In recent years, Cognitive Radio (CR) technology has largely attracted significant studies and research. Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Network (CRAHN) is an emerging self-organized, multi-hop, wireless network which allows unlicensed users to opportunistically access available licensed spectrum bands for data communication under an intelligent and cautious manner. However, in CRAHNs, a lot of failures can easily occur during data transmission caused by PU (Primary User) activity, topology change, node fault, or link degradation. In this paper, an attempt has been made to evaluate the performance of the Multi-Radio Link-Quality Source Routing (MR-LQSR) protocol in CRAHNs under different path failure rate. In the MR-LQSR protocol, the Weighted Cumulative Expected Transmission Time (WCETT) is used as the routing metric. The simulations are carried out using the NS-2 simulator. The protocol performance is evaluated with respect to performance metrics like average throughput, packet loss, average end-to-end delay and average jitter. From the simulation results, it is observed that the number of path failures depends on the PUs number and mobility rate of SUs (Secondary Users). Moreover, the protocol performance is greatly affected when the path failure rate is high, leading to major service outages.
Rank Level-Fusion

Rank level fusion is the method of consolidating more than two identification results to enhance the reliability in personal identification. In multimodal biometric system, rank level fusion can be used to combine the biometrics matching scores from the different biometric modalities (for example face, fingerprint, palmprint and iris). It can also be used for performance improvement in unimodal biometric system by combining multiple classifier output that use different classifiers (K nearest neighbor, neural network, support vector machine, decision tree, etc.), different training set, different architectures (different number of layers or transfer function in neural network) or different parameter values (different kernels in support vector machine or different K in K nearest neighbor).
Threshold-Learning in Local Spectrum Sensing of Cognitive Radio

Spectrum sensing is important for cognitive radios to utilize the idle spectrum opportunities, and recently cooperation schemes have been introduced to enhance spectrum sensing in specific areas. However, when a mobile cognitive node roams among heterogenous wireless network, it will be difficult to catch the changes of primary user's behavior, or to setup the cooperation relationship with local network nodes in a short time. In this paper, an self-learning spectrum sensing framework is proposed, which can enable the single mobile cognitive node to work in unknown wireless environment. When the wireless environment changes, the main sensing parameters (such as decision threshold, sampling frequency) could be adapted to optimum in the self- earning process. One adaptive algorithm is proposed to find the optimal decision threshold in energy detection sensing method. Simulation results show that, the proposed scheme could converge to optimal sensing parameters in spatial and temporal varying environment.
Source Text Characteristics and Technical and Temporal Post-Editing Effort: What is Their Relationship

This paper focuses on the relationship between source text characteristics (ambiguity, complexity and style compliance) and machine-translation post-editing effort (both temporal and technical). Post-editing data is collected in a traditional translation environment and subsequently plotted against textual scores produced by a range of systems. Our findings show some strong correlation between ambiguity and complexity scores and technical post-editing effort, as well as moderate correlation between one of the style guide compliance scores and temporal post-editing effort.
Giving users control over location privacy

Pervasive computing research makes it feasible to model people’s location. However, there are challenges in effective sharing of location information, with support for user control, enabling people to choose the location information available, at the same time, providing information that is useful. We describe our exploration of these issues, in our MyPlace Locator, a system which has been operating for several months to report people’s location within a closed community. It operated with complete disclosure of people’s location. Because it is based on the accretion/resolution modelling system which supports a range of “resolvers” to provide different levels of privacy, we wanted to gain an understanding of how people would want to make use of such privacy control. Moreover, we wanted to see how this might differ between people who had extensive experience of MyPlace Locator and those who had none. This paper describes a study of the ways that people choose resolvers that apply different privacy levels to different groups of people. We conclude that the preferences chosen by the long term users of the system had a different character from the others, and that there is a range of classes of “resolvers” that seem to be valuable for defining privacy control for location information.