Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dual Student: Breaking the Limits of the Teacher in Semi-supervised Learning

Recently, consistency-based methods have achieved state-of-the-art results in semi-supervised learning (SSL). These methods always involve two roles, an explicit or implicit teacher model and a student model, and penalize predictions under different perturbations by a consistency constraint. However, the weights of these two roles are tightly coupled since the teacher is essentially an exponential moving average (EMA) of the student. In this work, we show that the coupled EMA teacher causes a performance bottleneck. To address this problem, we introduce Dual Student, which replaces the teacher with another student. We also define a novel concept, stable sample, following which a stabilization constraint is designed for our structure to be trainable. Further, we discuss two variants of our method, which produce even higher performance. Extensive experiments show that our method improves the classification performance significantly on several main SSL benchmarks. Specifically, it reduces the error rate of the 13-layer CNN from 16.84% to 12.39% on CIFAR-10 with 1k labels and from 34.10% to 31.56% on CIFAR-100 with 10k labels. In addition, our method also achieves a clear improvement in domain adaptation.
Parallel implementation of a SDM using a GPU for vision-based robot navigation

Mobile robotics navigation is an area that has been subject to constant innovation. Possible forms of autonomous navigation may involve visual information and/or odometry. Unlike conventional odometry-based navigation where information from wheel encoders is used to track motion, vision-based navigation performs robot localization using images captured by digital cameras. In the current approach, images are stored in a type of associative memory Sparse Distributed Memory (SDM), proposed by Pentti Kanerva as a model of the long-term human memory. To speed up processing in real-time, the SDM is implemented in a GPU, taking advantage of GPU parallel processing capabilities. This paper describes the implementation and the performance of a SDM in a GPU, using CUDA programming. The results obtained in the CPU and GPU show that parallelization can improve the performance of the robot. Keywords– Parallel Programming, Sparse Distributed Memory, SDM, GPU, CUDA, Vision-based Navigation.
A cognitive modeling analysis of risk in sequential choice tasks

There are many ways to measure how people manage risk when they make decisions. A standard approach is to measure risk propensity using self-report questionnaires. An alternative approach is to use decision-making tasks that involve risk and uncertainty, and apply cognitive models of task behavior to infer parameters that measure people’s risk propensity. We report the results of a within-participants experiment that used three questionnaires and four decision-making tasks. The questionnaires are the Risk Propensity Scale, the Risk Taking Index, and the DomainSpecific Risk Taking Scale. The decision-making tasks are the Balloon Analogue Risk Task, the preferential choice gambling task, the optimal stopping problem, and the bandit problem. We analyze the relationships between the risk measures and cognitive parameters using Bayesian inferences about the patterns of correlation, and using a novel cognitive latent variable modeling approach. The results show that people’s risk propensity is generally consistent within different conditions for each of the decision-making tasks. There is, however, little evidence that the way people manage risk generalizes across the tasks, or that it corresponds to the questionnaire measures.
Acoustics Session 2 pBAb : Imaging and Characterization in Elastic Media 2 pBAb 4 . Speckle tracking in multiple-scattered pressure field

​ *Corresponding author's address: UMass-Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, ayse.k. savoy@gmail.com Speckle tracking imaging is used as a method to estimate heart strain. An analysis of accuracy of speckle tracking and its potential to be utilized in quantification of myocardial stress through estimation of heart motion is examined. Multiple scattering effects are modeled using the Kirchoff integral formulation for the pressure field. The method of Pade approximants is used to accelerate convergence and to obtain temporal varying characteristics of the scattered field. Phantoms having varied acoustical contrast media and speckle density are used in this study. The effectiveness of inter-image frame of correlation methods for estimating speckle motion in high contrast media is considered.
Neural Network-Based Approach for Detection of Liveness in Fingerprint Scanners

Fingerprints are the oldest and most widely used biometrics for personal identification. Unfortunately, it is usually possible to deceive automatic fingerprint identification systems by presenting a well-duplicated synthetic or dismembered finger. This paper introduces one method to provide fingerprint vitality authentication in order to solve this problem. Detection of a perspiration pattern over the fingertip skin identifies the vitality of a fingerprint. Mapping the two-dimensional fingerprint images into one-dimensional signals, two ensembles of measures, namely static and dynamic measures, are derived for classification. Static patterns as well as temporal changes in dielectric mosaic structure of the skin, caused by perspiration, demonstrate themselves in these signals. Using these measures, this algorithm quantifies the sweating pattern and makes a final decision about vitality of the fingerprint by a neural network trained by examples. KeywordsFingerprints, Vitality, Biometrics, Neural networks, Capacitive scanners, Image processing.
Lowest VIN Possible for Switched-Inductor Boost Converters

The minimum input voltage from which switched-inductor boost converters can draw power is a critical parameter, especially for power supplies that draw power from low-voltage sources like thermoelectric generators. When a battery is absent or fully discharged, the power supply relies on a millivolt input to wake and supply the system. This paper explains and quantifies what determines this minimum threshold both with and without a charged battery present. Analyses show that CMOS converters can wake with 44 mV, but not output power until the input source voltage vS is 268 mV. With a charged battery, they can transfer energy with 4.6 mV, but not output net power until vS is 64 mV.
Real-Time Optical Phase Conjugation for Scattering Compensation in Turbid Media

The possibility of scattering suppression effect for biological tissues based on the implementation of optical phase conjugation via four-wave mixing in a nonlinear medium has been analyzed. The process of short light pulse propagation through highly scattering media is modeled based on Finite-Difference Time-Domain calculations of Maxwell’s equations. The model for optical phase conjugation is derived based on coupled-mode equations for degenerate four-wave mixing in dye solutions. The scheme is experimentally analyzed for typical parameters of laser light beams and biological tissues in visible region of spectrum.
Internet Appendix for “ The Bright Side of Financial Derivatives : Options Trading and Firm Innovation ” by Iván Blanco and

This Internet Appendix provides additional material to the results presented in “The Bright Side of Financial Derivatives: Options Trading and Firm Innovation. ” In Section A.1, we describe the construction of the main data set. In Section A.2, we discuss and report robustness checks for the baseline results reported in Section 4 of the paper. In Section A.3, we report additional tests that supplement other parts of the main article. Descriptive statistics are in Table A16.
CAPITAL ENHANCED EQUILIBRIUM EXCHANGE RATE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY

There exist a lot of approaches to calculate equilibrium exchange rate (EER). This paper deals with so called Capital Enhanced Equilibrium Exchange Rate in the Czech Republic and Hungary. Cointegration analysis is used to verify theoretical approaches to real data. The aim of this article is to construct model of equilibrium exchange rate based on the Purchasing Power Parity theory (PPP) and the Uncovered Interest Parity theory (UIP) in these countries. Significant relationship between selected variables was found in both the Czech Republic and Hungary; and models of EER were made. Periods of under valuated and over valuated exchange rate was described as well. It was found that exchange rates were over valuated in most periods.
Effect of Plant Mineral Nutrition on Tomato Plant Infected with Meloidogyne Incognita Under Greenhouse Conditions

Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important vegetable plants in the world.Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita ) causing problems in all growing tomato areas in Egypt. The use of such mineral nutrients is the most environmentally successful method for limiting root-knot nematode damage. In this study seven plant mineral nutrients i.e. calcium sulphate, zinc sulphate, magnesium sulphate, iron sulphate, potassium sulphate N.P.K(20:20:20) and urea (5g/pot each) separately were evaluated comparing with oxamyl on root-knot nematode (1000 second stage juveniles/ pot each) infecting tomato plant cv. Castle Rock under greenhouse conditions (19±3oC). Calcium sulphate showed the maximum values in improving total plant fresh weight (65.0%), plant length (80.2%), shoot dry weight (97.2%) and number of leaves per plant (24.2%), with the highest reduction percentage in nematode population density that averaged 92.3%, followed by that of urea application (85.5%), respectively. Rates of nematode build-up under the stress of seven mineral nutrients and oxamyl were adversely affected. Such rates ranged between 0.1 to 1.8 vs 4.2 for nematode alone. Namely, calcium sulphate treatment had reasonable lower value of reproduction, (0.3) while, that of zinc sulphate had the highest one (1.8), whereas oxamyl recorded a lowest rate ( 0.1), respectively. Oxamyl as a systemic nematicide ranked second to calcium sulphate in suppressing nematode population density (88.7%), and ranked first in diminishing galls and eggmasses numbers with values of 88.2 and 100.0%, respectively.
Disinforma * on as Collabora * ve Work : Surfacing the Par * cipatory Nature of Strategic

In this paper, we argue that strategic information operations (e.g. disinformation, political propaganda, and other forms of online manipulation) are a critical concern for CSCW researchers, and that the CSCW community can provide vital insight into understanding how these operations function—by examining them as collaborative “work” within online crowds. First, we provide needed definitions and a framework for conceptualizing strategic information operations, highlighting related literatures and noting historical context. Next, we examine three case studies of online information operations using a sociotechnical lens that draws on CSCW theories and methods to account for the mutual shaping of technology, social structure, and human action. Through this lens, we contribute a more nuanced understanding of these operations (beyond “bots” and “trolls”) and highlight a persistent challenge for researchers, platform designers, and policy makers—distinguishing between orchestrated, explicitly coordinated, information operations and the emergent, organic behaviors of an online crowd.
Tumor detection in MR images of regional convolutional neural networks

In this study, an automated tumor detection system based on regional convolutional neural network from MR images was developed. At first MR images were preprocessed. After than tumors location and size were labelled manually. Labelled images were applied to the input of the designed different types of RCNN architecture. RCNN1 and RCNN3 compose of seven layer and have different size of filters. RCNN2 compose of eight layer and RCNN4 compose of nine layer. Benchmark, Rembredant and Harvard data sets were used in this study. Tumor detectors which have the textural and shape features of the tumor were obtained by the RCNNs. These tumor detectors were tested with the data sets. The best performance was obtained by RCNN4 architecture with Benchmark data set is 99.10%. The best average performance was obtained with RCNN4 is 98.66%. These results show that designed RCNNs are successful. Principle of the proposed method is shown in Figure A.
Tansley insight The Chlamydomonas CO 2 -concentrating mechanism and its potential for engineering photosynthesis in plants

To meet the food demands of a rising global population, innovative strategies are required to increase crop yields. Improvements in plant photosynthesis by genetic engineering show considerable potential towards this goal. One prospective approach is to introduce a CO 2 concentrating mechanism into crop plants to increase carbon ﬁxation by supplying the central carbon-ﬁxing enzyme, Rubisco, with a higher concentration of its substrate, CO 2 . A promising donor organism for the molecular machinery of this mechanism is the eukaryotic alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii . This review summarizes the recent advances in our understanding of carbon concentration in Chlamydomonas , outlines the most pressing gaps in our knowledge and discusses strategies to transfer a CO 2 -concentrating mechanism into higher plants to increase photosynthetic performance.
Aerobic Bacteria Isolated from Cases of Bovine Subclinical Mastitis in White Nile State , Sudan

In Sudan clinical and subclinical mastitis leads to a substantial drop in milk production which may reach 20%. Clinical mastitis can be detected by visual examination of both milk and mammary glands as any abnormalities can be detected easily. Diagnosis of subclinical mastitis presents a problem due to unapparent signs; however several screening tests are in use besides culturing methods. The study was aiming for isolation and identification of aerobic bacteria implicated in dairy cattle mastitis in White Nile State (Sudan). In this investigation a total of 83 bacterial isolates were obtained from 80 mastitic milk samples collected from different localities of White Nile State. According to the cultural characteristics, bacterial morphology and biochemical reactions results, the identified bacteria were: 15 Staphylococcus aureus (18.3%), 7 Staphylococcus epidermidis (8.4%), 4 Staphylococcus chromogenes (4.8%), 7 Streptococcus uberis (8.4%), 9 Bacillus subtilis (10.8%), 5 Micrococcus variens (6.0%), 3 Micrococcus luteus (3.6%), 13 Escherichia coli (15.7%), 11 Pseudomonas aerogenosa (13.3%) and 9 Klebsiella pneumoniae (10.8%). Gram positive Bacteria represented the higher 1 Corresponding author: abubalayis@gmail.com Abdalla A. O. Abdelrahim, Hamad I. Mustafa, El Ayis A. Abubaker Aerobic Bacteria Isolated from Cases of Bovine Subclinical Mastitis in White Nile State, Sudan EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH Vol. VI, Issue 8 / November 2018 4557 percentage (60.2%) compared to gram negative bacteria which represented 39.8% of the total bacteria isolated from mastitic milk samples collected from White Nile State. Coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative staphylococci are involved in bovine mastitis in White Nile State. Coliforms came in first place (39.9%) as a cause of bovine mastitis in White Nile State followed by Staphylococci (31.5%), B. subtilis (10.8%), Micrococci (9.6%) and Str. uberis (8.4%).
UT in Phased Array applications for Control of Structures and Piping of stages in the European Space Launchers

The non-destructive controls applied to components of the Stages manufactur ed by AVIO for the small European Launcher VEGA, include UT when po ssible as a consequence of the low cost and absence of environmental hazards. UT in phased array are in development to check the structure of solid state propellant rockets, wh ich is obtained by using the wrapped carbon filament technology. The composite resulting after polymerization of the structure made in filament winding, is characterized by a degree of compactness which generates high attenuation of the ultrasound signal. This requires a generator of high power pulse when high frequency probes are u sed as consequence of the resolution required to the NDT control of the structure. Recently two m aj r improvements have allowed good results in UT application to this kind of structures. The imp rovement comes from both the type of technology that produces more comp act structures as well as from the UT last generation systems. The ultrasound techniques are a practical and cost effective non-destructive inspection for this kind of structures and re prone to the automatization as recommended in the industrialization of manufacturing cycle s. On the other hand, for the control of piping in the liquid propellant stage lso, is under development the application of UT in phased array. The UT method avoids com plications associated with safety, which are necessary when radiographic inspection is made during assembling and that make the times unacceptably long. The paper presents the re ults obtained through UT Systems in Phased Array, developed as prototypes fo r non-destructive control of the cylindrical part of the insulated structure of Solid Prop ellant Rockets and on piping of liquid propellant stage.
Effect of Acute Needle Acupuncture on Peak Isometric Muscle Torque and Fatigue in Healthy Participants

Purpose: To investigate the effect of a single-session manual needle acupuncture procedure on peak isometric muscle torque and resistance to muscle fatigue. Method: Healthy participants (mean age 27.8 ± 9.8 years) were assigned to an acupuncture or control group. Each participant was required to perform a peak isometric muscle torque and 1-min isometric muscle fatigue task of the right knee extensors. Following 20-min of needle acupuncture (acupuncture group, N = 17) or 20-min rest (control group, N = 8), participants were required to repeat the peak isometric muscle torque and 1-min isometric muscle fatigue tasks. The acupoints included LV3, LI4, and GV20. ANOVA was performed for peak isometric muscle torque, muscle fatigue, muscle fatigue coefficient of variation (CV%), blood lactate, and heart rate. Results: There was a group by time interaction for the peak isometric torque (F = 5.9, P = 0.02, partial eta squared = 0.21). The control group revealed a 6.4% decline and the acupuncture group showed a 1.6% increase and in the repeat performance of the peak isometric muscle torque. No main effects were observed for isometric muscle fatigue, CV%, blood lactate, or heart rate. Conclusion: Repeat performance of the peak isometric muscle torque was sustained following a 20-min acupuncture procedure compared to a decline in the control group following a 20-min rest procedure. Differences between groups might be associated with acute acupuncture procedure and acquired performance bias.
Preparation and Properties of 3 D Chitosan Microtubes

The preparation of 3D chitosan microtubes from polymer solutions in citric and lactic acids by the wet and dry molding methods is described. The mechanism of formation of the insoluble polymeric layer constructing the walls of these microtubes is characterized.Themicrotubes obtained from chitosan solutions in citric acid are found to have a fragile porous inner layer. For those obtained from chitosan solutions in lactic acid the morphology, elastic-deformation properties, physicomechanical properties, and biocompatibility were assessed. These samples have smooth outer and inner surfaces with no visible defects and high values of elongation at break. The strength of the microtubes obtained by the dry method is much higher than in the case of the wet one. A high adhesion and high proliferative activity of the epithelial-like MA-104 cellular culture on the surface of our microtubular substrates inmodel in vitro experiments were revealed. Prospects of using chitosanmicrotubes as vascular prostheses are suggested.
MICROSTRUCTURE AND DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF PARALLEL EVOLUTION ON Ni 0 . 3 Zn 0 . 7 Fe 2 O 4 NANOPARTICLES

Nickel substituted zinc ferrite nanoparticles of the composition Ni0.3Zn0. 7Fe2O4 have been synthesized by the solid state method. The samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction, Field Emission Scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and dielectric studies. The X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the synthesis of single crystalline phase of Ni0.3Zn0. 7Fe2O4 nanoparticles. An improvement in the crystal structure is observed when samples were annealed at 1173 K to 1573 K. FESEM reveals that the sample has well dispersed nanoparticles. The dielectric constant decreases with increased frequency, the dispersion at low frequency range are follows the Maxwell-Wegner interfacial polarization. Keyword: Nickel zinc ferrite(NZF); annealing; X-ray diffraction; Field Emission Scanning electron microscopy; X-ray and dielectric properties;
Genetic variation in domestic pig Sus scrofa domestica populations in Cordoba-Colombia based on microsatellite markers

Genetic variation in three populations of pigs in Cordoba, Colombia was evaluated by 20 microsatellite. All loci studied were polymorphic, with an observed heterozygosis ranging from 0.2 to 84.2 % (mean 68.6 %) and expected heterozygosis ranged from 5.6 to 83.8 % (mean 70.2 %). The polymorphic information content (PIC) value for all markers analyzed ranged from 0.17 (least informative) and 0.83 (the most informative). The level of genetic differentiation FST between pairs of populations varied in the range from 0.07 to 0.11, being statistically significant in all analyzed pairs. In conclusion, the levels of expected heterozygosis found in the present paper show that the domestic pig in Cordoba, exhibits a high degree of genetic variability. Similarly, the genetic identity of Nei and statistical FST indicate genetic closeness between populations Momil and Cereté, which binds Tierralta, indicating migration between these three populations but keeping each its genetic identity.
Stingless Bee Foraging Behaviour Algorithm for Optimisation

Foraging behaviour of stingless bee has specific characteristics and it is of interest to be adapted as an optimisation algorithm. Foraging behaviour of stingless bee either as an individual worker or as a colony is different from the foraging behaviour of other group of bees. This paper considers an optimisation algorithm based on specific characters of stingless bee. The developed stingless bee algorithm is then tested for solving an optimisation problem of a wireless network routing with residual energy cognizance. Elapsed time of the computation of the stingless bee algorithm is examined by varying node number using 5 nodes, 10 nodes, 15 nodes, 20 nodes, and 25 nodes. The larger number of nodes means there are more candidate of solutions. The reduction mechanism and the early termination mechanism used in the stingless bee algorithm are the important parts of the developed stingless bee algorithm. The two mechanisms distinguish the algorithm from other bee colony based algorithms.
Gene Expression Signatures of Endometriosis

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent condition that affects nearly 10% women of reproductive age and is characterized by chronic pain and inflammation. Currently, it can only be fully diagnosed at surgery and has an average latency period of 11 years before it is diagnosed [1]. Profiling the deviations in gene expressions from normal endometrium to endometriosis is of high value towards understanding the disease and identifying diagnostic and therapeutic targets. We utilized a publicly available microarray data containing archived endometrial samples from women with different stages of endometriosis to derive gene expression signatures of the disease. We use the results of our differential analysis to construct a classification models to predict endometriosis for a given sample.