Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Achieving a Heterogeneous Software-Defined Networks with CamoVisor

Security is a key issue in Software-Defined Networks (SDN). To enhance security performance, we propose a secure mechanism, called CamoVisor, to combine the heterogeneity and resilience into SDN. CamoVisor is a hypervisor between the control plane and data plane. First, it prevents the attackers in the data plane probing the useful network information by hiding the implementation of the control plane. Second, it uses heterogeneous controllers to construct the control plane. Any faulty controller does not affect the entire control plane. We build a prototype of CamoVisor and do some experiments. The experiments show that CamoVisor is able to defend the attacks from the control plane and the data plane.
Removing Artifacts from Computed Tomography Images of Heart Using Neural Network with Partial Convolution Layer

Nowadays, metal artifacts caused by the implantable device leads may impair the quality of computed tomography (CT) images of the heart. It makes processing and analysis of the images to be difficult. In this article, a method of removing metal artifacts from the CT images of the heart for patients with implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices was developed.This method is based on using the UNet neural network architecture with partial convolution layers. The training dataset consisted of images with small artifacts processed by the normalized metal artifact reduction (NMAR) method and images without metal artifacts; images with large artifacts were not included in the training dataset. For each image, masks were randomly generated. These masks determine the regions where network should predict pixel values. Note, the regions were created in such a way that their shape and area were similar to a real metal artifact.Method we used in this research demonstrated better results than conventionally used NMAR. Particularly, index of peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and index of structure similarity (SSIM) for full size images in test dataset were 45.061 and 0.932, and the indexes for images cropped to predicted area were 36.67 and 0.92, respectively. In comparison, same indexes for NMAR processed images were much lower – 21.55 and 0.62.
Blockchain Technology Enabled Pay Per Use Licensing Approach for Hardware IPs

The present era is witnessing a reuse of hardware IPs to reduce cost. As trustworthiness is an essential factor, designers prefer to use hardware IPs which performed effectively in the past, but at the same time, are still active and did not age. In such scenarios, pay per use licensing schemes suit best for both producers and users. Existing pay per use licensing mechanisms consider a centralized third party, which may not be trustworthy. Hence, we seek refuge to blockchain technology to eradicate such third parties and facilitate a transparent and automated pay per use licensing mechanism. A blockchain is a distributed public ledger whose records are added based on peer review and majority consensus of its participants, that cannot be tampered or modified later. Smart contracts are deployed to facilitate the mechanism. Even dynamic pricing of the hardware IPs based on the factors of trustworthiness and aging have been focused in this work, which are not associated in existing literature. Security analysis of the proposed mechanism has been provided. Performance evaluation is carried based on the gas usage of Ethereum Solidity test environment, along with cost analysis based on lifetime and related user ratings.
Research on Pseudo-Random Noise Information Identification Technology of Printed Anti-Counterfeiting Image Based on Deep Learning

Halftone image with hiding pseudo-random information, which has excellent anti-duplication performance. It’s used to against the problem of counterfeiting and copying QR Code. However, due to the mocro-size of pseudo-random image information, direct recognition with mobile phones often has high bit error rate, low reliability and badly user experience. This paper based on the method of deep learning, to through marking the noise data in the QR Code images and classify them. Then building a convolutional neural network model, training the features of the noise image. Proved by experiment, this method can effectively identify noise information and the result can satisfy the error-tolerance requirement of pseudo random noise image channel coding.
PRODUCTION, CHARACTERIZATION AND MOLECULAR DOCKING OF MYCOPHENOLIC ACID BY BYSSOCHLAMYS NIVEA STRAIN JSR2

Objective: The present study was aimed to estimate the production of Mycophenolic acid by fungus Byssochlamys nivea strain JSR2 in various substrates and to conduct in silico studies to determine the interaction of MPA with the NS5B receptor of Hepatitis C Virus. Methods: The isolate was characterized as Byssochlamys nivea strain JSR2 by 18S rRNA gene sequencing. The production of mycophenolic acid by strain JSR2 was determined on various substrates such as pineapple and apple extract and was estimated using chromatographic technique. The morphological and spore arrangement of strain JSR2 was determined by high resolution scanning electron microscope. In silico studies were also conducted to determine the interaction of MPA with the NS5B receptor of hepatitis C virus with ribavarin as the reference ligand. Results: The mycophenolic acid production was found to be highest with pineapple juice substrate and was further identified by high performance liquid chromatography. The binding energy of MPA and ribavarin was found to be similar through Autodock Vina which further represents the same mechanism of action. Conclusion: The strain JSR2 produced good amount mycophenolic acid in the presence of pineapple juice as substrate and it represents the similar mode of action against Hepatitis C virus when compare to ribavaran with reference to in silico studies.
NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities: Restoring NASA's Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space

Success in executing future NASA space missions will depend on advanced technology developments that should already be underway. It has been years since NASA has had a vigorous, broad-based program in advanced space technology development, and NASA's technology base is largely depleted. As noted in a recent National Research Council report on the U.S. civil space program: Future U.S. leadership in space requires a foundation of sustained technology advances that can enable the development of more capable, reliable, and lower-cost spacecraft and launch vehicles to achieve space program goals. A strong advanced technology development foundation is needed also to enhance technology readiness of new missions, mitigate their technological risks, improve the quality of cost estimates, and thereby contribute to better overall mission cost management. Yet financial support for this technology base has eroded over the years. The United States is now living on the innovation funded in the past and has an obligation to replenish this foundational element. NASA has developed a draft set of technology roadmaps to guide the development of space technologies under the leadership of the NASA Office of the Chief Technologist. The NRC appointed the Steering Committee for NASA Technology Roadmaps and six panels to evaluate the draft roadmaps, recommend improvements, and prioritize the technologies within each and among all of the technology areas as NASA finalizes the roadmaps. The steering committee is encouraged by the initiative NASA has taken through the Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) to develop technology roadmaps and to seek input from the aerospace technical community with this study.
IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT STUDY OF JELLY FISH RHOPILEMA HISPIDUM DERIVED PROTEIN

The present investigation was to study the in vitro antioxidant activities of the protein from jelly fish from Rhopilema hispidum. The protein was isolated and purified through DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. In vitro antioxidant activity was determined by free radical scavenging assays from this study we observed the total antioxidant activity (88.47± 0.63), Reducing power assay (0.063± 0.07)- (0.786 ± 0.05), DPPH assays (79.82± 0.33%), ABTS assays (70.91± 0.57%), Superoxide anion assays (81.27± 0.66 %), Nitric oxide radical assay (49.74±0.63%) and Hydroxyl assays (77.49± 0.45%). Based on this result, we concluded the isolated protein of jellyfish found to be the best antioxidant source.
Total Free Sugars, Oil and Total Phenolics Content of Stored Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Water

Chemical components of stored coconut water, specifically total sugar, oil, and total phenolics content were determined in 3 varieties of coconuts namely Laguna Tall (LT), San Ramon Tall (SRT), and Aromatic Dwarf (AD) at different stages of maturity (13-23 months). The highest mean values for total sugars (2.95 mg/100g), oil (0.686 mg/100g), and total phenols (38.90 mg/100g) were observed from AD, SRT, and LT varieties, respectively. The highest mean values were also taken from the varying ages of maturity and these were 4.86 mg/100g (22 month) for total sugars, 0.866 mg/100g (23 month) for oil, and 143.48 mg/100g (13 month) for total phenols. The variety and stage of maturity of the nut apparently had significant effects on specific parameters of coconut water.
Traits related to species persistence and dispersal explain changes in plant communities subjected to habitat loss

Aim Habitat fragmentation is a major driver of biodiversity loss but it is insufficiently known how much its effects vary among species with different life‐history traits; especially in plant communities, the understanding of the role of traits related to species persistence and dispersal in determining dynamics of species communities in fragmented landscapes is still limited. The primary aim of this study was to test how plant traits related to persistence and dispersal and their interactions modify plant species vulnerability to decreasing habitat area and increasing isolation.
Indexing Swift Fox Populations in New Mexico Using Scats

Abstract We examined collection of scats (feces) as a survey method for indexing statewide populations of swift foxes (Vulpes velox). We searched for scats on 99 transects throughout the range of swift foxes in New Mexico. Swift fox scats were found on 79.8% of transects. Scats confirmed by DNA analysis to have originated from swift foxes were found on 59.6% of transects. Statistical power was sufficient to detect a 20% decline in the proportion of transects with swift fox scats or a 7% decline in the total number of scats collected over the entire range. The proportion of transects with scats and the total number of scats collected may be useful as indices of relative swift fox population abundance. Average number of scats found per collection site was not found to be a useful index due to large variations between sites in the numbers of scats found. Confirmation of swift fox presence by DNA analysis does not appear to be necessary for transects with >7 scats, as all transects with >7 scats had at least one confirmed swift fox scat. Collection of scats appears to be a useful technique for indexing populations of swift foxes in New Mexico.
IoT Based Switching Of Microgrid For Uninterrupted Power Supply

uninterrupted power supply plays a major role in health, testing, manufacturing sectors and individual's dependent on life saving equipment's. This paper explains how we can have a continuous power supply by using a new technology. Two ways: An automatic or IoT based switching of Microgrid can provide uninterrupted power supply that prevents energy outage or power failure due to various and different problems of the Microgrid. Therefore, the aim of this project is to provide a continuous power supply to the consumers in the most economical way, within less time, flexible way and without causing any severe damage to consumer business or human life.
Maintenance of primary human hepatocyte function in vitro by extracellular matrix scaffolds

Liver disease is a leading cause of mortality in the United States. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TE&RM) approaches to treating liver disease have the potential to provide temporary support with biohybrid artificial liver-assist devices or long-term therapy by replacing the diseased liver with functional tissue-engineered constructs that utilize a combination of cells, scaffolds and bioactive factors. A rate-limiting step for TE&RM technologies has been the loss of hepatocyte-specific functions in vitro after hepatocytes are isolated from their highly specialized in vivo microenvironment. The identification of a biologic substrate that can maintain a functional hepatocyte differentiation profile during in vitro culture would advance potential TE&RM therapeutic strategies. The present study is predicated upon the hypothesis that the substrate upon which hepatocytes are seeded is a critical determinant of cell phenotype and function. Biologic scaffolds composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from mammalian organs have been used to maintain cell phenotype in vitro. Two studies were performed to evaluate the ability of ECM scaffolds to maintain primary human hepatocyte (PHH) phenotype in vitro. The first study evaluated the effect of ECM scaffolds derived from porcine liver (PLECM) and human liver (HLECM) upon maintainence of PHH specific functions in vitro. Cytochrome P450 activity and albumin secretion were used as indicators of hepatocyte functionality. No differences in hepatoycte-specific functions were measured when comparing PHH cultured with PLECM and HLECM. From a clinical perspective, the results are appealing because of the limited availability of human liver tissue compared to porcine liver tissue for the manufacture of ECM scaffolds.The second study cultured PHH between two layers of PLECM and compared with Matrigel double gel cultures and adsorbed type-1 collagen. Albumin secretion, hepatic transport activity and ammonia metabolism were used as markers of hepatocyte functionality. PHH cultured between two layers of porcine liver ECM had significantly higher levels of albumin secretion, hepatic transport activity, and ammonia metabolism compared to PHH cultured on collagen.
Mitigation of Sense Amplifier Degradation Using Skewed Design

Designers typically add design margins to semiconductor memories to compensate for aging. However, the aging impact increases with technology downscaling, leading to the need for higher margins. This results into a negative impact on area, yield, performance, and power consumption. As an alternative, mitigation schemes can be developed to reduce such impact. This paper proposes a mitigation scheme for the memory’s sense amplifier (SA); the scheme is based on creating a skew in the relative strengths of the SA’s cross-coupled inverters during design. The skew is compensated by aging due to unbalanced workloads. As a result, the impact of aging on the SA is reduced. To validate the mitigation scheme, the degradation of the sense amplifier is analyzed for several workloads. The experimental results show that the proposed mitigation scheme reduces the degradation of the sense amplifier’s critical figure-of-merit, the offset voltage, with up to 26%.
Quarantine provisions for unmanned extra-terrestrial missions

This document sets forth requirements applicable to unmanned planetary flight programs which are necessary to enable the Associate Administrator for Space Science to fulfill those responsibilities pertaining to planetary quarantine as stated in NPD 8020.7 and NPD 8020.10A. This document is specifically directed to the control of terrestrial microbial contamination associated with unmanned space vehicles intended to encounter, orbit, flyby, or otherwise be in the vicinity of extra-terrestrial solar system bodies. The requirements of this document apply to all unmanned planetary flight programs. This includes solar system exploratory missions to the major planets as well as missions to planet satellites, or to other solar system objects that may be of scientific interest. This document is not applicable to terrestrial (including lunar) missions and manned missions. NASA officials having cognizance of applicable flight programs will invoke these requirements in such directives or contractual instruments as may be necessary to assure their implementation.
GENOMIC DNA EXTRACTION METHODS: A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY WITH GRAM-NEGATIVE ORGANISMS

The cell wall structure of gram-negative bacteria is more complex than that of gram-positive bacteria because of the presence of two layers external to the cytoplasmic membrane. Purpose of this study is to compare the four different methods for genomic DNA extraction from three gram negative strains-Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, and Salmonella typhi. The genomic DNA was extracted from gram-negative bacteria cultures using enzymatic lysis with Proteinase-K, chemical lysis with cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), physical lysis with Triton X-100 and Beads beating methods. The yield and quality of DNA were compared by spectrophotometry and agarose gel electrophoresis. The genomic DNA purity ratio was found within 1.1-1.9 for all four methods. This study revealed that the chemical lysis with CTAB was the most efficient method for extracting genomic DNA from gram negative strains. In terms of chemical lysis with CTAB for Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella species the highest purity ratio were 1.9 and 1.8 respectively. However Escherichia coli also showed the highest purity ratio (1.7) for CTAB extraction. Enzymatic lysis with Proteinase-K was also very effective and purity ratio for Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella species were 1.8 and 1.7 respectively.
Landscape and human influences on the distribution of the endangered North African houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata undulata) in Eastern Morocco

The distribution and global habitat association of the North African houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata sensu stricto) were studied for the first time in a large semi‐arid steppe‐land region in eastern Morocco. The study area has been protected from hunting for 6 years, but was still under significant pressure from grazing activities. Houbara distribution was assessed using point count surveys conducted during the 2002 breeding season and compared to natural‐ and human‐related predictors. The hierarchy and quantification of influences was evaluated using a discriminant function analysis. Micro‐topography first drove houbara bustard distribution, since birds were usually found in open flat tracts allowing visibility over a long distance for the prevention of potential predator approaches, but also for breeding males to be seen by conspecifics. ‘Flooding surfaces’ presenting concealment possibilities, as well as readily available food resources, were secondly sought. Proximity to wells was a surrogate to human presence and pastoral activity influences and appeared to affect houbara bustard distribution. The weight of human disturbance on houbara distribution is highlighted and it is recommended that this should be considered in conservation plans.
Towards Retraining of Machine Learning Algorithms: An Efficiency Analysis Applied to Smart Agriculture

This paper compares the efficiency of state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms used to detect an object in an image. A comparison between a deep learning algorithm such as the VGG-16 and a well-tuned random forest algorithm using classical image analysis parameters is presented. To estimate the efficiency, the classification performances like AUC, precision, recall and computation time of the algorithm retraining process are used. The experimental set-up shows that a well-tuned random forest algorithm is equal to, or better than, the deep learning approach and increases the speed of the retraining process by a factor of around 400.
Impact of NBTI Aging on Self-Heating in Nanowire FET

This is the first work that investigates the impact of Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) on the Self-Heating (SH) phenomenon in Silicon Nanowire Field-Effect Transistors (SiNW-FETs). We investigate the individual as well as joint impact of NBTI and SH on pSiNW-FETs and demonstrate that NBTI-induced traps mitigate SH effects due to reduced current densities. Our Technology CAD (TCAD)-based SiNW-FET device is calibrated against experimental data. It accounts for thermodynamic and hydrodynamic effects in 3-D nano structures for accurate modeling of carrier transport mechanisms. Our analysis focuses on how lattice temperature, thermal resistance and thermal capacitance of pSiNW-FETs are affected due to NBTI, demonstrating that accurate self-heating modeling necessitates considering the effects that NBTI aging has over time. Hence, NBTI and SH effects need to be jointly and not individually modeled. Our evaluation shows that an individual modeling of NBTI and SH effects leads to a noticeable overestimation of the overall induced delay increase in circuits due to the impact of NBTI traps on SH mitigation. Hence, it is necessary to model NBTI and SH effects jointly in order to estimate efficient (i.e. small, yet sufficient) timing guardbands that protect circuits against timing violations, which will occur at runtime due to delay increases induced by aging and self-heating.
Feedback Control of Computing Systems

Computing systems are dynamic systems and they are important in ensuring the safety, profit and availability of many physical and business systems. Examples of computing systems can be found in almost every area of life and sciences such as e-commerce, financial (banking) webservers, stock markets, educational webservers and nuclear systems. Traditionally, the design of computing systems relied heavily on using tools from queuing theory to design scheduling algorithms, and very few computing scientists having familiarity with control theory. In this paper, we apply concepts from control theory to the design of computing systems. An interesting problem in computing systems in the clock synchronization problem. In terms of control system theory, a clock is an unstable system and synchronizing a clock can be classified as a feedback controller design problem. However, unlike traditional control systems, designing such a feedback controller is more challenging due to the fact that the system (or plant) itself is unstable and the job of the controller is only to synchronize it (and not stabilize it). This problem becomes more interesting when we considered networked computing systems and introduce time delays in such systems.
Sparse Array Design for Adaptive Beamforming via Semidefinite Relaxation

In this letter, we propose a sparse array design method for adaptive beamforming in the presence of interferences. Our solution is based on finding the beamformer weight vector such that maximum output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio is attained. To control the sidelobes of the beampattern, quadratic fractional constraints are also introduced to optimize the beamformer weights. We formulate the array design problem as real-valued quadratically constrained quadratic program (QCQP) with reweighted $l_1$-norm to promote sparsity. Moreover, we adopt semidefinite relaxation (SDR) and linear fractional SDR together to solve the QCQP problem. The resulting array yields excellent beamforming performance and a beampattern with low sidelobes. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed sparse array design.