Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and Performance Analysis of Conformal Antenna for C Band Wireless Applications

The objective of this paper is to design and performance analysis of split ring resonator loaded conformal antenna on a cylindrical surface. This designed antenna has a frequency range in Microwave C band cover the frequency of 5.0 GHz for wireless applications. The proposed antenna is designed on RT/Duroid substrate having permittivity 2.2 and thickness is 0.254 mm which provides flexibility and fed by coaxial feeding techniques. Split ring resonators are cut on the ground plane and patch for enhancing the antenna gain characteristics. Conformal antennas are very suitable for bedded on any curve geometry and provides almost 360-degree coverage with few limitations. The performance parameters ex: return loss, radiation pattern and gain etc are simulated and measured using the HFSS V.13 software. The designed antenna exhibits return loss near about –27.19 dB and 5.7 dB gain with butterfly radiation pattern. This design can be used for a wide range of applications like Satellite Communication, Airborne communication, Automatic Missile, Radar Communication etc.
Robust Backstepping Control for Tracked Vehicles Under the Influence of Slipping and Skidding

In many situations, vehicles are required to operate over a rough terrain to undertake certain tasks. Therefore, such vehicles are designed with tracks to deal with the irregular terrain. The performance of tracked vehicles is evident to be better over rough terrains than those with wheels. However, it is required to maneuver and steer such tracked vehicles in an efficient manner to follow a certain path. In fact, the most challenging factor in steering a tracked vehicle over a rough terrain is the presence of slipping and skidding and their consequences. In this paper, a nonlinear control scheme is proposed to overcome the presence of slipping and skidding while maneuvering tracked vehicles over uneven terrains. A robust feature is utilized in the proposed controller design to improve the tracking performance under slipping and skidding. Preliminary simulation results are introduced to verify the proposed controller and demonstrate the feasibility of the design.
Influence of Network Delay in Virtual Reality Multiplayer Exergames: Who is actually delayed?

One of the fields where Virtual Reality (VR) is finding a potentially growing market is in the combination of exercising and gaming - also called exergaming. When it comes to competition in gaming, is important to investigate how different levels of delay influence overall quality of experience (QoE) in VR multiplayer exergames. The experimental setup consisted of a VR application coupled with a rowing ergometer, allowing races between the user and an artificially created opponent that is following the player with a similar speed and keeping the race tight. To investigate the influence of the delay, on both user’s and opponent’s side three levels of network delay were introduced (30ms, 100ms, and 500ms) and mixed throughout different conditions. After each session, participants rated perceived flow, sense of presence, and the degree to which they have noticed the delay in their or the opponent’s system. Interestingly, results show different perception of delay and QoE depending on user’s own delay. Participants perceived the opponent’s player as being delayed even if only the player itself had network delay along with significantly lower rating of QoE only when their delay was high.
Pressure Beneath the Foot for Older Adults Using an Improved Approach

A new methodology is suggested in this research to investigate some parameters of the pressure beneath the foot of healthy older adults. Using such methodology helps to accomplish human gait analysis in more efficient way. It allows reduction the resources, such as time, cost and efforts, required by the commonly used approaches to conduct human gait analysis. It also helps to achieve more accurate results.We recruit a small number of participants to collect data with higher accuracy for the purpose of reducing the resources, and then combining them with published data to satisfy the sample size conditions. Hence, the final results are computed from the combined data.The targeted parameters are maximum force (MF) and pressure time integral (PTI) from four regions of the human plantar, namely whole foot, rearfoot, midfoot and forefoot.Five healthy older adults were recruited to preform two sessions of trials by using 300E F-scan insole sensors. During each session, twelve walks by each participant along a 10-m walkway at a laboratory setting were recorded after wearing appropriate sized shoes with the sensors inserted inside them. We suggested the so-called mean of three steps protocol to extract the higher accurate self-captured data.To obtain the final results from the combined data, we use the so-called weighted mean and standard error.Our findings showed that the new approach comparing to the most commonly used ones leads to more accurate results using less resources. It produced smaller SE’s in all of the eight parameters studied.For the maximum force and pressure time integral, the results of this research indicated that: 1) the whole foot had the biggest values 2) the forefoot region had the second largest values and 3) the regions of rearfoot and the midfoot had the lowest last two values in decreasing order.
Exposure and Neuronal Excitation by Wireless Power Transfer for Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Inductive wireless power transfer (WPT) can be used to power implanted as well as wearable medical devices, such as a percutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation device. This device is placed on the neck of the patient and is connected to needle electrodes in the auricle. With regard to WPT, limitations on exposure to electric and magnetic fields should not be exceeded. Furthermore, these fields should not interfere with the therapeutic goal of stimulation, i.e., with unintended peripheral nerve stimulation in the auricle. These effects are investigated by numerical simulation of induced internal fields in the head and neck and, for the first time, subsequent neuronal simulations, quantifying the potential of neuronal excitation by the fields in the auricle in particular. Internal electric field values were in the range of 1%–5% of the ICNIRP 2010 basic restrictions, and current densities were in the range of 30%–45% of the ICNIRP 1998 basic restrictions, indicating that all tested configurations are conform the guidelines. Basic restrictions on heating of tissue turned out not to be of relevance for this application. Thresholds for neuronal stimulation were two orders of magnitude higher than the induced fields, suggesting that there is almost no risk for unintended stimulation.
Improving efficiency and availability in Smart Classroom environments

The improvement of the teaching and learning process today is possible through the integration of day-to-day technologies. Among the existing technological methods for learning, there are those focused on content, like educational games and virtual environments, and those centered on the student and the environment, like adaptive, ubiquitous and context-aware environments. In this last scenario, you will find smart classrooms smart, which must have the support of a Fog Computing infrastructure to operate effectively. The objective of this work is to demonstrate methods of identification, prevention, and failure treatment in this of cloud computing infrastructure, to achieve greater efficiency of the ubiquitous and adaptive environment of Smart Classroom. The proposal is not only limited to this application, but is applicable regardless of the type of Internet of Things (IoT) environment implemented. To verify these methods effectiveness, a Smart Classroom is simulated on the iFogSim platform. The results obtained regarding the level of availability and operability of the components were promising, evidencing proper levels of methods applicability.
A Decision Method for Online Purchases Considering Dynamic Information Preference Based on Sentiment Orientation Classification and Discrete DIFWA Operators

Online reviews are crucial for evaluating product features and supporting consumers’ purchase decisions. However, as a result of online buying behaviors, consumer habits, and discrete dynamic distribution characteristics of online reviews, and consumers typically randomly choose a limited number of reviews from discrete time frames among all reviews and give more weight to recent review information and less weight to earlier information to support their online purchase decisions; moreover, existing studies have ignored the discrete random dynamic characteristics and dynamic information preferences of consumers. To address this issue, this paper proposes a method based on sentiment orientation classification and discrete DIFWA (DDIFWA) operators for online purchase decisions considering dynamic information preferences. In this method, we transformed review texts from original discrete time slices to discrete random features, extracted product features based on the constructed feature and sentiment dictionaries, and matched pairs of features and sentiment phrases in the dictionaries. We subsequently employed three types of semantic orientation by defining semantic rules to extract the product features of each review. Of note, the semantic orientations were transformed from discrete time to semantic intuitionistic fuzzy numbers and semantic intuitionistic fuzzy information matrixes. Furthermore, we proposed two DDIFWA operators to aggregate the dynamic semantic intuitionistic fuzzy information. Specifically, we obtained the rankings of alternative products and their features to support consumers’ purchase decisions using the intuitionistic fuzzy scoring function and the “vertical projection distance” method. Finally, comparisons and experiments are provided to demonstrate the plausibility of our methods.
A Wavelet-Based Approach for Automatic Diagnosis of Strict Left Bundle Branch Block

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is widely used in heart failure patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB). However, the high false-positive rates obtained with the conventional LBBB criteria limit the effectiveness of this therapy. This has yielded to the definition of a new stricter criteria for diagnosis. The aim of this work was to develop and assess a fully-automatic algorithm for strict LBBB diagnosis. Twelve-lead, high-resolution, 10-second ECGs from 602 patients enrolled in the MADIT-CRT trial were available. Data were labelled for strict LBBB by 2 experts and divided into training (n=300) and validation (n=302, blind annotations to the investigators) sets for assessing algorithm performance. After QRS detection, a wavelet-based delineator was used to detect individual Q-R-S waves, QRS onsets and ends, and identify the type of QRS pattern on each standard lead. Then, multilead QRS boundaries were determined in order to compute the QRS width. Finally, an automatic algorithm for notch/slur detection within the QRS complex was applied based on the same wavelet approach used for delineation. In the validation set, LBBB was diagnosed with a sensitivity and specificity of Se=92.9% and Sp=65% (Acc=79%, PPV=73.9% and NPV=89.6%). Results confirmed an accurate diagnosis of strict LBBB based on a fully-automatic extraction of temporal and morphological QRS features.
What Is Interaction?

The term interaction is field-defining, yet surprisingly confused. This essay discusses what interaction is. We first argue that only few attempts to directly define interaction exist. Nevertheless, we extract from the literature distinct and highly developed concepts, for instance viewing interaction as dialogue, transmission, optimal behavior, embodiment, and tool use. Importantly, these concepts are associated with different scopes and ways of construing the causal relationships between the human and the computer. This affects their ability to inform empirical studies and design. Based on this discussion, we list desiderata for future work on interaction, emphasizing the need to improve scope and specificity, to better account for the effects and agency that computers have in interaction, and to generate strong propositions about interaction.
Cholesterol Crystal Embolization: A Review of 221 Cases in the English Literature

Cholesterol crystal embolization (CCE) frequently presents with nonspecific manifestations that mimic other systemic diseases. The authors reviewed 221 cases of histologically proven CCE in the English literature to define the clinical, laboratory, and pathologic characteristics of this disorder. CCE affected predominantly elderly males (mean age sixty-six) with a frequent history of hypertension (61%), atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (44%), renal failure (34%), and aortic aneurysms (25%) at presentation. At least one possible predisposing factor was present in 31 % and included operative and radiological vascular procedures and the use of anticoagulants. Cutaneous findings (34%) and renal failure (50%) were two of the most common clinical findings throughout the course of CCE. The nonspecific signs and symptoms included: fever (7%), weight loss (7%), myalgias (4%), and headache (3%). Premortem diagnoses were established in 31 % of patients most commonly by biopsy of the muscle, skin, and kidney. Mortality was high (81 %) and was most commonly due to multifactorial, cardiac, and renal etiologies. The authors conclude that CCE should be strongly considered in elderly patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who have the onset of renal insufficiency and cutaneous manifestations. CCE may be confirmed by a skin or muscle biopsy.
Color Image Reconstruction for Digital Cameras

Recently we observed a fast diffusion of digital cameras that are able to acquire images and videos directly in the digital format. This new acquisition technique allowed to explore new strategies to process, save and display images and videos. Digital cameras require many operations to process the data acquired by the sensor. In this thesis I present an overview of the techniques used in practical realizations and proposed in the literature. Particular attention is paid to the algorithms that are more connected to the image processing area. Among them, the process that is the most important for the quality of the resulting images and the most computational demanding is demosaicking. This consists in the reconstruction of the full color representation of an image from the data acquired by a sensor provided with a color filter array that in each pixel acquires a color component only instead of the three values that are necessary to represent a color image. The most common color filter array is called Bayer pattern, from the name of his inventor Bryce Bayer. In this thesis an overview of the demosaicking techniques presented in the literature is given and three new methods that allow to obtain good performances with a reduced computational cost are proposed. The first two are based on directional interpolations and are made adaptive to the image behavior through analysis of the edges and wavelet transformations. The last proposed technique, instead, is based on regularization methods, an useful tool to find a solution for an ill-conditioned inverse problem. Since the sensor introduces a noisy component in the acquired data, an algorithm to perform demosaicking and denoising jointly is also analyzed. It exploits wavelet transformations. Finally, a method to adaptively interpolate the image is presented, in order to increase the resolution and improve the visual quality of the details in the image. This technique is based on an analysis of the statistical local behavior of the image.
Algorithmic IF  … THEN rules and the conditions and consequences of power

ABSTRACT The introduction to this special issue suggests we need to develop ‘a greater understanding of what might be thought of as the social power of algorithms'. In this paper, ‘social power’ will be critically scrutinised through a study of the entanglement of algorithmic rules with contemporary video-based surveillance technologies. The paper will begin with an analysis of algorithmic ‘IF … THEN’ rules and the conditions (IF) and consequences (THEN) that need to be accomplished for an algorithm to be said to succeed. The work of achieving conditions and consequences demonstrates that the form of ‘power’ in focus is not solely attributable to the algorithm as such, but operates through distributed agency and can be noted as a network effect. That is, the conditions and consequences of algorithmic rules only come into being through the careful plaiting of relatively unstable associations of people, things, processes, documents and resources. From this we can say that power is not primarily social in the sense that algorithms alone create an impact on society, but social in the sense of power being derived through algorithmic associations. The paper argues that this kind of power is most clearly visible in moments of breakdown, failure or other forms of trouble, whereby algorithmic conditions and consequences are not met and the careful plaiting of associations has to be brought to the fore and examined. It is through such examinations that the associational dependencies more than the social power of algorithms are made apparent.
An Advanced simulation Code for Modeling Inductive Output Tubes

During the Phase I program, CCR completed several major building blocks for a 3D large signal, inductive output tube (IOT) code using modern computer language and programming techniques. These included a 3D, Helmholtz, time-harmonic, field solver with a fully functional graphical user interface (GUI), automeshing and adaptivity. Other building blocks included the improved electrostatic Poisson solver with temporal boundary conditions to provide temporal fields for the time-stepping particle pusher as well as the self electric field caused by time-varying space charge. The magnetostatic field solver was also updated to solve for the self magnetic field caused by time changing current density in the output cavity gap. The goal function to optimize an IOT cavity was also formulated, and the optimization methodologies were investigated.
Progress with numerical and graphical methods for practical Bayesian statistics

One of the main obstacles to the routine implementation of Bayesian methods has been the absence of efficient algorithms for carrying out the computational tasks implicit in the Bayesian approach. In this paper, recent progress towards overcoming this problem is reviewed. In particular, novel numerical integration and interpolation methods, which exploit the opportunities offered by modern interactive computing and graphics facilities, are outlined and illustrated.
Traffic Management Strategies for Multi-Robotic Rigid Payload Transport Systems: Extended Abstract

In this work, we address traffic management of multiple payload transport systems (PTS) comprising of non-holonomic robots. Each PTS is a loosely coupled rigid robot formation carrying a payload. We ensure each PTS traverses its desired trajectory while avoiding collisions with other PTS and static obstacles in various kinds of complex environments. Each PTS has one leader and multiple followers and the followers maintain a desired distance and angle w.r. t the leader using a decentralized leader-follower control architecture. We showcase through simulations that our strategies help manage traffic for a large number of PTS moving around.
The role of node dynamics in shaping emergent functional connectivity patterns in the brain

Abstract The contribution of structural connectivity to functional brain states remains poorly understood. We present a mathematical and computational study suited to assess the structure–function issue, treating a system of Jansen–Rit neural mass nodes with heterogeneous structural connections estimated from diffusion MRI data provided by the Human Connectome Project. Via direct simulations we determine the similarity of functional (inferred from correlated activity between nodes) and structural connectivity matrices under variation of the parameters controlling single-node dynamics, highlighting a nontrivial structure–function relationship in regimes that support limit cycle oscillations. To determine their relationship, we firstly calculate network instabilities giving rise to oscillations, and the so-called ‘false bifurcations’ (for which a significant qualitative change in the orbit is observed, without a change of stability) occurring beyond this onset. We highlight that functional connectivity (FC) is inherited robustly from structure when node dynamics are poised near a Hopf bifurcation, whilst near false bifurcations, and structure only weakly influences FC. Secondly, we develop a weakly coupled oscillator description to analyse oscillatory phase-locked states and, furthermore, show how the modular structure of FC matrices can be predicted via linear stability analysis. This study thereby emphasises the substantial role that local dynamics can have in shaping large-scale functional brain states.
Similarity of thermodynamic properties of the Heisenberg model on triangular and kagome lattices

Derivation of a reduced effective model allows for a unified treatment and discussion of the $J_1$-$J_2$ Heisenberg model on a triangular and kagome lattice. Calculating thermodynamic quantities, i.e. the entropy $s(T)$ and uniform susceptibility $\chi_0(T)$, numerically on systems up to effectively $N=48$ sites we show by comparing to full-model results that low-$T$ properties are well represented within the reduced model. Moreover, we find in the spin-liquid regime similar variation of $s(T)$ as well as $\chi_0(T)$ in both models down to $T \ll J_1$. In particular, the spin liquid appears to be characterized by Wilson ratio vanishing at low $T$, indicating on the low-lying singlet dominating over the triplet excitations.
Pseudoscalar transition form factors and the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon from holographic QCD

We revisit the predictions for the pseudoscalar-photon transition form factors in bottom-up and top-down holographic QCD models which only use the pion decay constant and the $\rho$ meson mass as input. We find remarkable agreement with the available experimental data for the single-virtual $\pi^0$ form factor that have recently been extended to lower momenta by BESIII, down to 0.3 GeV$^2$. The bottom-up models moreover turn out to be roughly consistent with recent experimental results obtained by BaBar for the double-virtual $\eta'$ form factor at large momenta as well as with a recent lattice extrapolation for the double-virtual $\pi^0$ form factor. Calculating the pion pole contribution to the hadronic light-by-light scattering in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, we find that the bottom-up models in question span the range $a_\mu^{\pi^0}=5.9(2)\cdot 10^{-10}$, which is about 10\% lower than estimated previously by approximating these holographic predictions through simple interpolators.
A Key 6G Challenge and Opportunity - Connecting the Remaining 4 Billions: A Survey on Rural Connectivity

Providing connectivity to around half of the World population living in rural or underprivileged areas is a tremendous challenge, but also a unique opportunity. In this paper, a survey of technologies for providing connectivity to rural areas, and that can help address this challenge, is provided. Fronthaul and backhaul techniques are discussed. In addition, energy and cost efficiency of the studied technologies are analyzed. Typical application scenarios in rural areas are discussed, and several country-specific use cases are surveyed. Directions for future evolution of rural connectivity are outlined.