Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Line outage detection using optimal number of Phasor Measurement Unit

The power distribution network needs to be monitored in an effective manner against the line outages. Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) is a device which is used to estimate the magnitude and phase angle of an electrical phasor quantity. PMUs are distributed globally to provide time synchronized information to operators through phasor data concentrator. In this paper, a new algorithm to identify single line outage using the PMU has been proposed. The voltage phasor angles are taken only at buses where the PMUs are located. Further the optimal location of PMUs is identified by an algorithm based on maximum connectivity of buses. Proposed algorithm is developed in MATLAB environment and tested on IEEE 9 bus system which is simulated in PSAT software.
Polar Coding for the Multiple Access Channel With Confidential Messages

The multiple access channel with confidential messages (MAC-CM) generalizes the traditional multiple access channel by allowing both users to receive channel outputs. Achievable secrecy rate region of this model has been established using random coding arguments, whereas practical codes design remains to be further discussed. In this paper, we develop an explicit polar coding scheme that achieves the secrecy rate region of the MAC-CM under strong secrecy. In particular, our scheme mainly relies on monotone chain rules and polar coding techniques for single-user channels. A proper chaining scheme is constructed to align polar indices and to provide strong secrecy. Finally, a rigorous analysis is provided to validate the performance of our scheme.
A Novel Partition Mode for Screen Content Video in AVS3

With the development of applications such as wireless displays and remote desktop, screen content coding (SCC) has been a topic of increasing interest. The state-of-the-art partition modes in AVS3 restrict a parent coding unit (CU) to partition into no more than four sub-CUs in each partition process. To obtain more than four smaller sub-CUs, a parent CU needs to partition recursively. In this paper, to simplify the recursive partition processes and improve SCC efficiency, a novel partition mode which allows a parent CU to be partitioned into several pre-defined smaller sub-CUs with the same shape and size directly is proposed. We make some pre-experiments to verify the validity of the proposed partition mode, and limit the application scope to four rectangular CU sizes based on the pre-experimental results. As demonstrated in the experimental results, the proposed partition mode can obviously improve SCC efficiency.
Cost-efficient Remote Radio Head Deployment in 5G Networks Under Minimum Capacity Requirements

Dense small cell deployment is an effective way to address the increasing requirements of the emerging Fifth Generation mobile networks. The Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) is an emerging concept that can achieve very dense small cell deployment. In ultra-dense C-RAN architectures with numerous Remote Radio Heads (RRHs), the minimization of the deployment cost is a critical issue in the radio network planning phase. In this paper, we propose a low complexity algorithm that minimizes the required number of small cells, while ensuring user satisfaction in terms of network capacity. The algorithm is based on the successive elimination of RRHs, and it simultaneously solves the minimization and the optimal deployment problems. The evaluation results indicate that the proposed algorithm can efficiently solve the aforementioned problems.
Coherent and Incoherent Robot Emotional Behavior for Humorous and Engaging Recommendations

Social robots are effective in influencing and motivating human behavior. To gain a deeper understanding of how the robot emotional non-verbal behaviors might shape the human perception of the interaction while providing recommendations, we conducted a between-subjects experimental study using a humanoid robot in a movie recommendation scenario. This experiment aims at evaluating whether an incoherent use of emotional behavior, with respect to the presented contents, may produce a sort of humorous effect that positively affect the user perception of the recommendation. We evaluated, using an off-the-shelf solution, engagement and emotions shown by the users. Our results showed that a robot incoherent behavior does not distract the user, but it increases his/her engagement producing a positive emotional response. Such a difference is significant in the case of female subjects and depends on the considered emotions.
MobiExpressNet: A Deep Learning Network for Face Expression Recognition on Smart Phones

Accurate Face Expression Recognition (FER) on a smart phone is useful in many applications which respond to a user’s emotional state. However, the more limited computational power available on these devices restricts the complexity of developed algorithms. We introduce a new lightweight Deep Learning model, MobiExpressNet, for FER. The model relies on depthwise separable convolutions to limit the complexity, and we adopt a fast downsampling approach together with few layers in the architecture to keep the model size very small. Through exploring possible variations in the model structure, we determined that the best network model gave an accuracy of 67.96% on the challenging FER2013 dataset which exceeds human accuracy by 2.5%. The MobiExpressNet model size and FLOPs are shown to be over 5 times smaller than the smallest MobileNet model which makes the developed model very attractive for real-time applications.
SPV based Floating Charging Station with Hybrid Energy Storage

This paper is proposing a solar photovoltaic based floating charging station (FCS) for marine electric vehicles. The floating charging station can be made useful to all electric marine vehicles during their course of voyage without diverting to port for recharging. The marine charging stations act as self-sustained structures entirely relied on renewable energy generation and hybrid storage system technologies. The marine vessel can meet their energy requirement by bidding with the charging stations via proper communication systems. Floating solar power plant stations is an advanced approach of using photovoltaic modules on water infrastructures to conserve the land along with marine application. This proposed floating charging station with a hybrid energy storage system is designed and verified using MATLAB/Simulink model. The performance of FCS is evaluated. The design and analysis of FCS is detailed in this by considering various load conditions and storage charge controller.
Does contextual barriers and supports has an effect on STEM career development? A case study among system engineering students in Peru

─ Nowadays, there is a consensus about the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Previous empirical research has found that contextual barriers and supports have the potential to limit or foster the career goals of college students of STEM careers. The aim of the current study was to explore the effects of barriers and supports in self-efficacy, interests, outcome expectations and goals through Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT). The participants in this study were 270 system engineering college students from three universities in the North of Lima, Peru. We test causality relationships between barriers and supports and each nuclear component of SCCT. To test direct effects, structural equation modelling was employed. In addition to these, we established different types of barriers and support in the current sample. Therefore, the present study may help educational institutions and policymakers to develop specific systematic strategies for system engineers such as career orientation, academic skills training, counselling, and psychological services.
LIEPP Working Paper

Functional foods have swept across France and Europe since the late 1980s. Margarines enriched with omega 3 or phytosterols, yoghurts enriched with bifidus or vitamin-rich food supplements. these foods with health claims have reopened the boundary erected over the course of the twentieth century between the markets for medicines, whose primary function is to treat the sick, and those for foods, whose primary function is to meet the nutritional needs of healthy people. They thus raise many issues for regulators, producers, distributors and consumers. Are they health products that can usefully contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases or marketing manipulations that are not of any health interest? Should they be regulated and marketed as drugs, as food or as a separate category? Drawing on significant contributions in economic history and sociology, this article analyzes the consequences of the classification of these products as medicines, foods or dietary supplements on their valuation and the structure of their markets. It also focuses on the boundary work in which industry and regulatory actors engage in order to “(re)classify” these products, and thereby “(re)structure” the markets in which they circulate. The first part of the article describes the process that led France to establish a boundary between the previously intertwined markets for medicines and foods over the course of the twentieth century, which has been blurred by the appearance of functional foods since the beginning of the 1980s. The second part deals with the efforts of French and European regulatory authorities and industry actors to renegociate these boundaries between the markets for medicines and foods bearing nutritional and health claims. We conclude this second part with a discussion of the consequences of this reframing for the reorganization of markets and the reevaluation of the health benefits and commercial advantages of these products.
A 0.14-to-0.29-pJ/bit 14-GBaud/s Trimodal (NRZ/PAM-4/PAM-8) Half-Rate Bang-Bang Clock and Data Recovery Circuit (BBCDR) in 28-nm CMOS

This paper reports a trimodal (NRZ/PAM-4/PAM-8) half-rate bang-bang clock and data recovery (BBCDR) circuit featuring single-loop phase tracking, and low-power techniques at both the architecture and circuit levels to improve the overall energy efficiency. Fabricated in 28-nm CMOS, the prototype achieves a 0.29/0.17/0.14 pJ/bit efficiency at 14.4/28.8/43.2 Gb/s in NRZ/PAM-4/PAM-8 modes, respectively. The integrated jitter is <0.53 ps, and at least 1-UIPP jitter tolerance is achieved up to 10 MHz for all the three modes.
PIPP: Person Identification from Palm-surface Polygons

Automatic person identification from palmprint images is a well-established technology in biometrics. In biometrics, a person is identified based on some characteristic parameters. Characterization of the palmprint images is done mainly using principal lines, wrinkles, and ridges. In this paper, we have proposed a person identification method based on a novel set of geometric features highlighting the characteristics of the palm surface as biometric behavior. Performance of the proposed method has been evaluated on publicly available palm-image datasets, and the results establish the applicability of the method. On VERA left-hand, right-hand, and COEP image datasets, the proposed method shows 96.5%, 97.5%, and 95.3% accuracy, respectively.
A Power-Efficient and Safe Neural Stimulator Using Ultra-High Frequency Current Pulses for Nerve Conduction Block

Kilohertz frequency alternating current (KHFAC) stimulation can induce fast-acting, reversible and repeatable nerve conduction block, and is a candidate therapeutic method for diseases caused by undesired neural activities, such as urinary retention. In this paper, we first show that ultra-high frequency (UHF) current pulses can also lead to successful nerve conduction block, based on simulation results using the McIntyre-Richardson-Grill (MRG) model. This model describes a myelinated axon of mammalian animals. Second, we present a prototype of a power efficient neural stimulator using UHF current pulses with active charge balancing (CB). The stimulator is built using off-the-shelf components and can be battery-powered. It uses a DC-DC boost converter without a big filtering capacitor, for generating UHF current pulses. The power efficiency of the complete system is up to 98% when testing with an equivalent circuit model of electrode tissue interface (ETI). Safety measurement results show that the electrode offset voltage can be as high as 1.3 V without charge balancing, in in vitro experiments with titanium electrodes in a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. However, this electrode offset voltage can be successfully lowered to less than 42.5 mV, by means of negative-feedback duty cycle control of the H-bridge clock. The active CB is adopted for KHFAC stimulation for the first time.
A Watercolor Painting Image Generation Using Stroke-Based Rendering

The main contribution of this work is to propose a watercolor painting image generation using stroke-based rendering. In this work, we use a watercolor model simulating behavior of watercolor to paint a brush stroke. Using this model, we mimic uneven painting of brush stroke similar to the actual watercolor painting. Also, we repeat drawing with a brush while reducing the brush size in the same way as real painting. To paint strokes to the canvas, we use a greedy approach such that the difference an input image and the canvas image is minimized. As a result, we can generate high quality watercolor painting images that closely approximate the input image while having a watercolor painting style.
Iron-Loss and Magnetization Dynamics in Non-Oriented Electrical Steel: 1-D Excitations Up to High Frequencies

This paper presents a thorough introduction to and application of the Parametric Magneto-Dynamic (PMD) model of soft magnetic steel sheets. The theoretical background is reviewed, and two different ways are discussed to account for the viscosity-like effects originating from microscopic eddy currents. This is followed by the theoretical calculation of magnetization dynamics and dynamic hysteresis loops in Non-Oriented (NO) electrical steel. Both classical and viscosity-extended approaches are discussed, with respect to the ability of replicating the dynamic hysteresis loop shape and iron-loss under sinusoidal excitation waveforms up to high excitation frequencies. Comparisons against measurements are analyzed for M400-50A and M235-35A NO electrical steel over a wide range of magnetic flux density and excitation frequencies. The proven accuracy and efficiency of the PMD model make it a valuable tool for the calculation of iron losses in electrical machines and transformers, as well as for an in-depth study of magnetization dynamics in individual laminations.
DeepMutation++: A Mutation Testing Framework for Deep Learning Systems

Deep neural networks (DNNs) are increasingly expanding their real-world applications across domains, e.g., image processing, speech recognition and natural language processing. However, there is still limited tool support for DNN testing in terms of test data quality and model robustness. In this paper, we introduce a mutation testing-based tool for DNNs, DeepMutation++, which facilitates the DNN quality evaluation, supporting both feed-forward neural networks (FNNs) and stateful recurrent neural networks (RNNs). It not only enables to statically analyze the robustness of a DNN model against the input as a whole, but also allows to identify the vulnerable segments of a sequential input (e.g. audio input) by runtime analysis. It is worth noting that DeepMutation++ specially features the support of RNNs mutation testing. The tool demo video can be found on the project website https://sites.google. com/view/deepmutationpp.
Semantic Segmentation Learning for Autonomous UAVs using Simulators and Real Data

Deep learning requires large amounts of data for training models. For the task of semantic segmentation, manual annotation is time-consuming and difficult. With the recent advances in game engines, simulators have become more popular as they can instantly generate ground truth data for multiple sensors. In this paper, we make a thorough survey of the most recent and popular simulators and synthetic datasets, exploring solutions for semantic segmentation on images taken from drones. We also propose an extension of the CARLA simulator by introducing an aerial camera. We evaluate a deep learning model trained on both synthetic and real data and present a new dataset which comprises both.
An Extended Stability Analysis Method for Paralleled DC-DC Converters System With Considering the Periodic Disturbance Based on Floquet Theory

Paralleled DC-DC converters system normally is operated with current-sharing control to achieve equal current distribution among the converters connected in parallel. However, the added current-sharing control might make the paralleled DC-DC converters system suffer from potential degradation of stability and dynamic performances. Hence, the stability analysis of paralleled DC-DC converters system is a hot issue. In order to analyze the stability of paralleled DC-DC converters system accurately and effectively, an extended stability analysis method based on Floquet theory is proposed for paralleled DC-DC converters system in this paper with considering the periodic disturbance. And, a paralleled buck converters system with average current-mode control is taken as an analysis object. The extended stability criterion of paralleled buck converters system based on Floquet theory is derived. Finally, the simulation and experimental results verify the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed stability criterion with considering the periodic disturbance. This paper provides a new choice for the stability analysis of paralleled DC-DC converters system.
Threat Analysis of Fake Virus Alerts Using WebView Monitor

As mobile devices have become more popular, mobile web browsing has surpassed desktop browser use and the number of mobile malware cases has increased. The methods of infiltrating Android devices with malware include malvertising and scams. Android users can access websites via web browsers and Android apps using WebView, which displays web content inside an app without redirecting users to web browsers. However, WebView is vulnerable to cyberattacks and the security mechanisms are not sufficient to prevent all attacks. In this study, to analyze web access threats via WebView, we investigated web access to malicious websites against Android mobile devices. In particular, we focused on fake virus alerts. To monitor web access for threat analysis, we improved the WebView Monitor [1] to capture all web access via Android WebView. In particular, we analyzed the mechanism of displaying a fake virus alert while browsing websites on Android.
Research on VLF Field Strength Prediction System Based on MapX

VLF communication is affected by environmental factors, which results in obvious three-dimensional non-uniformity of time, space and frequency, and easily leads to poor command of underwater platforms. Utilizing the predictability of VLF wave propagation, the signal field intensity can be predicted, and the communication effect can be predicted accurately, which can improve the communication efficiency of underwater platform. This paper presents a series of fundamental ideas, function design and implementation of VLF communication signal field strength prediction system based on MapX technology and waveguide mode theory. The practical application shows that the predicted results of the system are in good agreement with the measured data and have high engineering application value.
Wideband Vibrations Rejection of Tip-Tilt Mirror Using Error-Based Disturbance Observer

Vibration rejection is a key technology of practical engineering, especially in optical telescopes with a stable accuracy of urad level. The closed-loop performance of optical telescopes is largely determined by the control bandwidth, while it is severely limited by the low sampling rate and large time delay of the image sensor, so it is difficult to mitigate structural vibrations in optical telescopes, especially wideband vibrations, because they exist universally and greatly influence the stability of the system. This paper develops an improved error-based disturbance observer (EDOB) based on the Youla parameterization approach to mitigate wideband vibrations in optical telescopes. This novel method can greatly improve the vibration rejection ability of the system by designing a proper Q-filter to accommodate wideband vibrations when their frequencies can be acquired. Because wideband vibrations in optical telescopes can be considered as multiple narrow-band vibrations with similar central frequencies, a novel Q-filter instead of a single wideband notch filter is proposed to mitigate wideband vibrations when considering the stability and closed-loop performance of the system. Moreover, this method only relies on a low frequency model, leading to a reduction in model dependence. Both the simulations and experimental results show that the error-based disturbance observer based on Youla parameterization can greatly improve the closed-loop performance of the system compared with the traditional feedback control loop.
A Novel One Stage Buck-Boost Inverter

This paper proposes a Novel One Stage Buck Boost DC-AC Inverter (OSBBDAI) which boosts and inverts the input DC into AC. Generally for an application, where an AC output is generated from low voltage DC, two stage converters are used – a front end DC-DC boost converter followed by a DC-AC Inverter. But in proposed topology the conversion is possible in one stage which makes the system more compact, less weight and size. The Topology uses modified sine PWM in which the duty cycle is varied at each switching cycle ensuring a sine wave at output. This proposed system use equal number of switch in each half cycle which makes the AC output symmetrical. Steady state analysis of proposed OSBBDAI in discontinuous conduction mode is carried out in this paper. The simulation of the proposed converter is done using Matlab/Simulink validates the operation and analysis of the converter.
An Improved Broadband Circularly Polarized Cross-Dipole Antenna With An AMC Reflector

In this paper, we present an improved design method to significantly reduce the volume of circularly polarized (CP) cross-dipole antenna. Unlike the commonly used approaches, the distance between the antenna and the reflector is largely narrowed to only 0.13$\lambda_{0}$ in this work. The proposed cross-dipole antenna achieves low profile and broadband characteristics by using stepped rectangular patch arms, parasitic strips and artificial magnetic conductor (AMC). And CP radiation for the proposed antenna can be generated effectively by connecting two arms of each dipole via a vacant-quarter ring. The overall size of the proposed antenna is 0.88$\lambda_{0} \times 0.88\lambda_{0} \times 0.13\lambda_{0}$. Simulation results show that a broadband impedance bandwidth (for Sll < -10dB) of 47.3% (1.81 to 2.93 GHz), a wide 3-dB AR bandwidth of 25.3% (2.16 to 2.78 GHz), the peak gain of 7.8 dBic and the average CP gain of whole operating frequency band of 7.5 dBic are obtained.