Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-time detection of pedestrians in night-time conditions using a vehicle mounted infrared camera

Current statistics show that a significant number of road fatalities occur during night-time hours despite a smaller number of vehicles on the road. This number could be significantly reduced with the use of systems that automatically detect Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) and alert the driver of their presence. This thesis presents an efficient embedded Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) to detect pedestrians with a far-infrared sensor in real-time. The ADAS proposed in this thesis is implemented on a low power Intel Atom Central Processing Unit (CPU) and an Altera Arria GX II Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The CPU and FPGA communicate over a PCI-express 2.0 bus using a Direct Memory Access engine on the FPGA. The pedestrian detection algorithm was partitioned between the FPGA and CPU to ensure real-time performance. Far-infrared images are first acquired with a microbolometer at a rate of 25fps, and a morphological closing operation is applied to remove distortion on the pedestrian’s torso. The frames are sent to the FPGA to be processed using dedicated hardware. Regions of Interest (ROI) that could potentially contain pedestrians are isolated from the background using hardware accelerated Seeded Region Growing (SRG). The isolated ROI are classified using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) on the CPU. Histogram of Oriented Gradient (HOG) features and Local Binary Pattern (LBP) features are extracted from the ROI. These features are then concatenated to form a HOG-LBP feature vector and are passed to a classifier that determines if the ROI contains a pedestrian or non-pedestrian object. Successfully classified pedestrians are tracked between frames using a Kalman filter. The system runs in real-time at a rate of 25fps, the frame rate of the micro bolometer. The hardware accelerated SRG method obtained a 97.93% reduction in execution time compared to the software implementation than on the CPU alone. Detection rates of 98% have been achieved with HOG-LBP features on a database of 2,000 individual frames and video containing 15,000 frames. The total power consumption of the system is 3.12W. This results in a highly accurate, low power, low cost system suitable for the automotive sector.
Development of NIST Standard Bullets and Casings Status Report | NIST

The program responds to the mandate of the Justice System Improvement Act of 1979, which directed NIJ to encourage research and development to improve the criminal justice system and to disseminate the results to Federal, State, and local agencies. The Law Enforcement and Corrections Standards and Testing Program is an applied research effort that determines the technological needs of justice system agencies, sets minimum performance standards for specific devices, tests commercially available equipment against those standards, and disseminates the standards and the test results to criminal justice agencies nationally and internationally. The program operates through: The Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Advisory Council (LECTAC), consisting of nationally recognized criminal justice practitioners from Federal, State, and local agencies, which assesses technological needs and sets priorities for research programs and items to be evaluated and tested. The Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which develops voluntary national performance standards for compliance testing to ensure that individual items of equipment are suitable for use by criminal justice agencies. The standards are based upon laboratory testing and evaluation of representative samples of each item of equipment to determine the key attributes, develop test methods, and establish minimum performance requirements for each essential attribute. In addition to the highly technical standards, OLES also produces technical reports and user guidelines that explain in nontechnical terms the capabilities of available equipment. The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC), operated by a grantee, which supervises a national compliance testing program conducted by independent laboratories. The standards developed by OLES serve as performance benchmarks against which commercial equipment is measured. The facilities, personnel, and testing capabilities of the independent laboratories are evaluated by OLES prior to testing each item of equipment, and OLES helps the NLECTC staff review and analyze data. Test results are published in Equipment Performance Reports designed to help justice system procurement officials make informed purchasing decisions. Publications are available at no charge through the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center. Some documents are also available online through the Internet/World Wide Web. To request a document or additional information, call 800–248–2742 or 301–519–5060, or write: The technical effort to develop this report was conducted under Interagency Agreement 94–IJ–R–004, FOREWORD The Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) furnishes technical support to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) …
The Impact of Lockdown, Patient Classification, and the Large-Scale Case Screening on the Spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hubei

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, is widely controlled now in China. However, the global epidemic is still severe. To study and comment on Hubei's approaches for responding to the disease, the paper considered some factors such as suspected cases (part of them are influenza patients or common pneumonia patients, etc.), quarantine, patient classification (three types), clinically diagnosed cases, and lockdown of Wuhan and Hubei. After that, the paper established an SELIHR model based on the surveillance data of Hubei published by the Hubei Health Commission from 10 January 2020 to 30 April 2020 and used the fminsearch optimization method to estimate the optimal parameters of the model. We obtained the basic reproduction number ℛ0 = 3.1571 from 10 to 22 January. ℛ0 was calculated as 2.0471 from 23 to 27 January. From 28 January to 30 April, ℛ0 = 1.5014. Through analysis, it is not hard to find that the patients without classification during the period of confirmed cases will result in the cumulative number of cases in Hubei to increase. In addition, regarding the lockdown measures implemented by Hubei during the epidemic, our simulations also show that if the lockdown time of either Hubei or Wuhan is advanced, it will effectively curb the spread of the epidemic. If the lockdown measures are not taken, the total cumulative number of cases will increase substantially. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that the lockdown, patient classification, and the large-scale case screening are essential to slow the spread of COVID-19, which can provide references for other countries or regions.
Evaluation of the Effect of Anti-COVID-19 Mouthwashes on Shear Bond Strength of Composite Resin Restorations to Dentin and Enamel: An “In Vitro Study”

Objectives Given the high prevalence of the coronavirus and the high risk of virus transfer to dentists, the use of mouthwashes, which can potentially eliminate this virus, is suggested before dental procedures. Since these mouthwashes may affect the bond strength of composite resin restorations to teeth, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of recommended mouthwashes on the shear bond strength of composite resin restorations to dentin and enamel in selective etch and rinse and two-step self-etch bonding systems. Methods Five groups of posterior teeth (n = 15) were selected for five groups of cetylpyridinium chloride 0.07%, povidone-iodine 1%, hydrogen peroxide 1%, and chlorhexidine 0.2% as mouthwash and distilled water as the control group. The buccal enamel and lingual dentin of each tooth were rinsed after immersion in a mouthwash. After 20 seconds of enamel acid-etching and 15 seconds of dentin priming, they were impregnated with an adhesive, and composite cylinders were placed on the dentin and enamel surfaces of the tooth. The shear bond strength test was performed after 24 hours, and results were analyzed by ANOVA and paired t-test (α = 0.05). Results The mean shear bond strength of enamel to composite was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of dentin to composite in each study group, but no significant difference was found between the mean shear bond strength of composite to enamel (p = 0.199) and to dentin (p = 0.335) after the use of mouthwashes and that of the control group. Conclusion The use of mouthwashes used in this study did not have negative effects on the shear bond strength of composite to enamel and dentin.
Identifying Patterns of Self-Reported Nonadherence Using Network Analysis in a Mixed German Cohort

Purpose Nonadherence is a complex behaviour that contributes to poor health outcomes; therefore, it is necessary to understand its underlying structure. Network analysis is a novel approach to explore the relationship between multiple variables. Patients and Methods Patients from four different studies (N = 1.746) using the self-reported Stendal Adherence to Medication Score (SAMS) were pooled. Network analysis using EBICglasso followed by confirmatory factor analysis were performed to understand how different types of nonadherence covered in the SAMS items are related to each other. Results Network analysis revealed different categories of nonadherence: lack of knowledge about medication, forgetting to take medication, and intentional modification of medication. The intentional modification can further be sub-categorized into two groups, with one group modifying medication based on changes in health (improvement of health or adverse effects), whereas the second group adjusts medication based on overall medication beliefs and concerns. Adverse effects and taking too many medications were further identified as most influential variables in the network. Conclusion The differentiation between modification due to health changes and modification due to overall medication beliefs is crucial for intervention studies. Network analysis is a promising tool for further exploratory studies of adherence.
TROP2 as Patient-Tailoring but Not Prognostic Biomarker for Breast Cancer

Purpose Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP2) has emerged as a promising target of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), as well as other breast cancers (BCs). This study aims to investigate the biomarker value of TROP2 for patient-tailoring and prognostic for BC patients, including TNBC. Methods The levels of TROP2 expression in 404 Chinese BC tissues on tissue microarrays (TMAs) were quantified by immunohistochemistry and their correlations to the clinicopathological factors and the overall survival rate were analyzed. Also, BC cell lines and patient-derived organoids (PDOs) with different TROP2 expression levels were employed to investigate the correlation between TROP2 expression levels and the therapeutic responses to DS001, a TROP2-directed ADC molecule with stable linker and potent payload. Results TROP2 overexpression was identified in significantly more (P = 0.046) tumor tissues (41.08%, 99/241) than normal adjacent tissues (31.29%, 51/163) from Chinese BC patients, and in significantly more (P = 0.024) TNBC patients (59.38%, 19/32) than in other BC types (38.28%, 80/209). BC cell line with the lowest TROP2 expression level failed to respond to DS001 treatment. The levels of TROP2 expression were determined to be significantly correlated with the potencies of DS001 treatment, but not with the overall survival rates of the patients. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that TROP2 could serve as a patient-tailoring and predictive biomarker for ADC therapeutics but not as a general prognostic biomarker to predicate patient survival.
Identification of 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles-Based Novel EGFR Inhibitors: Molecular Dynamics Simulation-Guided Identification and in vitro ADME Studies

Background In this work, we have identified heterocyclic derivatives with 1,2,4 oxadiazole scaffold mimicking the functions of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Fourteen molecules that displayed the best fit were picked from the library of compounds and studied under in-silico and in-vitro conditions. Four compounds were selected for further cytotoxicity and ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Elimination) profiling showing IC50 (from 8–13 µM) values against EGFR positive cancer cell line (MCF7). Methods A molecular dynamics simulation study was performed to understand the correlation of non-covalent binding energies with biological activity. The drug-like properties of the selected four compounds (7a, 7b, 7e, and 7m) were evaluated by in-vitro ADME studies. Compounds 7a, 7b, and 7m were the active compounds in the molecular dynamics simulations study. Further, EGFR binding activity was confirmed with EGFRWT and EGFRT790M kinase assay using a luminescence-based method. Results These compounds (7a, 7b, and 7m) showed activity against EGFRWT and mutant EGFRT790M, exhibiting IC50 values of <10 and <50 micromolar, respectively. These compounds also possess moderate aqueous solubility in 40–70 µg/mL at pH 7.4 and 30–100 µg/mL at pH 4.0. Further, 7a, 7b, and 7m showed balanced lipophilicity with Log D values ranging from 1–3. They demonstrated a good correlation in Caco-2 permeability with Apparent permeability (Papp) 1 to 5 × 10−6 cm/s in comparison with 7e, which was found to be highly lipophilic (Log D >5) and showed high permeability (Papp 17 × 10−6 cm/s). Lastly, all these compounds were moderately stable in liver microsomes at alkaline pH with a half-life of 30–60 min, while at a highly acidic pH (2.0), the compounds were stable up to 15–20 min. Conclusion Overall, in-vitro ADME results of these molecules showed good drug-like properties, which are well correlated with the in-silico ADME data, making them ideal for developing an oral drug delivery formulation.
Complex Required for Transport-I through Targeting Endosomal Sorting PTAP-Dependent Retroviral Budding TANK-Binding Kinase 1 Attenuates

Retroviruses need to bud from producer cells to spread infection. To facilitate its budding, some virus hijacks the multivesicular body (MVB) pathway that is normally used to cargo and degrade ubiquitylated cellular proteins, through interaction between the late domain of Gag polyproteins and the components of MVB machinery. In this study, we demonstrated that TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) directly interacted with VPS37C, a subunit of endosomal sorting complex required for transport-I (ESCRT-I) in the MVB pathway, without affecting the ultrastructure or general function of MVB. Interestingly, overexpression of TBK1 attenuated, whereas short hairpin RNA interference of TBK1 enhanced HIV-1 pseudovirus release from Vero cells in type I IFN (IFN-I)-independent manner. Down-regulation of TBK1 by short hairpin RNA in TZM-bl cells also enhanced live HIV-1 NL4-3 or JR-CSF virus budding without involvement of IFN-I induction. Furthermore, infection of TBK1-deﬁcient mouse embryonic ﬁbroblast cells with a chimeric murine leukemia virus/p6, whose PPPY motif was replaced by PTAP motif of HIV-1, showed that lack of TBK1 signiﬁcantly enhanced PTAP-dependent, but not PPPY-dependent retrovirus budding. Finally, phosphorylation of VPS37C by TBK1 might regulate the viral budding efﬁciency, because overexpression of the kinase-inactive mutant of TBK1 (TBK1-K38A) in Vero cells accelerated HIV-1 pseudovirus budding. Therefore, through tethering to VPS37C of the ESCRT-I complex, TBK1 controlled the speed of PTAP-dependent retroviral budding through phosphorylation of
CoilGen: Open‐source MR coil layout generator

An automated algorithm for generating realizable MR gradient and shim coil layouts based on the boundary element method is presented here. The overall goal is to reduce postprocessing effort and thus enable for rapid prototyping of new coil designs. For a given surface mesh and target field, the algorithm generates a connected, non‐overlapping wire path.
Dry malt extract from barley partially replacing ground corn in diets of dairy cows: Nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and milk composition.

Dry malt extract (DME) has been used in animal nutrition as an alternative source of rapidly fermentable carbohydrate. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the partial replacement of ground corn with DME in diets of dairy cows on apparent digestibility, ruminal fermentation, predicted rumen microbial protein supply, N excretion, serum urea-N concentration, and milk yield and composition. Twenty-eight Holstein cows (35.3 ± 5.88 kg/d milk yield and 148 ± 78 d in milk), 4 of which were rumen cannulated, were blocked according to the presence of rumen cannulas, parity, milk yield, and days in milk and enrolled into a crossover design experiment. Experimental periods lasted 21 d, of which the first 14 d were allowed for treatment adaptation and 7 d were used for data collection and sampling. Treatment sequences were composed of control (CON) or DME from barley (Liotécnica Tecnologia em Alimentos) replacing ground corn at 7.62% diet dry matter (∼2 kg/d). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc.) modeling the fixed effects of treatment, period, and their interaction, in addition to the random effect of animal. Ruminal fermentation data were analyzed as repeated measures including time and its interaction with treatment in the previous model as fixed effects. Treatments did not affect nutrient intake or feed sorting. Dry malt extract increased apparent digestibility of CP. Feeding DME decreased ruminal pH and molar percentage of butyrate and increased molar percentage of acetate. No treatment effects were detected for predicted rumen microbial protein supply or N excretion. Cows fed DME had lower serum urea-N concentration than CON cows. Dry malt extract increased yields of actual milk, 3.5% fat-corrected milk, fat, and protein, and improved feed efficiency (fat-corrected milk ÷ dry matter intake). Cows fed DME had lower milk urea nitrogen content in comparison with CON cows. Dry malt extract can partially replace ground corn in the diet while improving milk yield and feed efficiency.
Simulation and Analysis the Performance of 3970 Km DWDM Transmission Link Employing Optimized Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

Abstract—In this paper first we try to analysis the behavior of the SOAs in the optical networks and then have proposed a numerical simple model to simulate the behavior of the semiconductor optical amplifiers. After that by employing this model as inline amplifier for a DWDM optical system, we have simulated the transmission of 10 channels with bit rate 10 Gb/s up to distance 3970 km with RZ-DPSK modulation format at 20 GHz channel spacing. On the other hand in order to amplify the signal at the transmission link, we have used 73.5km relay span consist of 63km single mode fiber (SMF), 10.5km dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) and a SOA at the end. Our results show that by optimizing the key parameters of the SOA such as the bias current and the input power and furthermore by proper placement of the spans, we can transmit the signal with good amplification and low noise power.
Seismic performance of four-story two-bay HPC frame

In order to investigate the seismic behavior of high performance concrete(HPC) frames,such as failure pattern,failure mechanism,hysteretic model,deformation restoring capacity,displacement ductility,stiffness degradation and energy dissipation capacity,an experimental study on a four-story two-bay HPC frame under low reversed cyclic loading is carried out.The optimal failure mechanism of the multi-bay multi-story frame is emphasized.Studies show that a sequential development of beam hinges from bottom to top of multi-story multi-bay frames can provide good ductility and energy dissipation capacity.The top and story ductility coefficients of the frame range from 4.5 to 8.0. A program based on hysteretic models is developed for hysteresis full-range analysis of the model frame.Hysteresis analytical calculations agree well with the experimental results.In addition,structural performance indices and its value of design limits based on the principle of "repairable under moderate level of earthquake" for HPC frames are preliminarily studied.
Fear of COVID‐19 mediates the relationship between negative emotional reactivity and emotional eating

Recent studies have highlighted high levels of emotional eating during the coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic, but have not satisfactorily explained these changing eating patterns. Here, we tested one potential explanatory model broadly based on a biosocial model of emotional eating. Specifically, we examined the extent to which negative emotional reactivity was associated with emotional eating, as well as the mediating role of fear of COVID‐19. A total of 474 women from Romania were asked to complete measures of emotional eating, negative emotional reactivity, and fear of COVID‐19. Mediation analysis showed that higher negative emotional reactivity was significantly and directly associated with greater emotional eating. This direct relationship was also mediated by fear of COVID‐19. These results highlight one possible route through which the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic may have resulted in elevated rates of emotional eating, though further research is needed.
OldPhone: A video communication system designed to suit elderly people's abilities and needs Derived by a PD process with elderly people

The aim with this thesis was to investigate how a video communication system best possible could be designed to fit elderly people's abilities and needs. The interest was to find out what kind of interaction and platform to design for as well as what to consider when designing graphical user interfaces for elderly users. The goal was to conduct a participatory design process and involve elderly users. A field study was conducted, where 9 elderly users were interviewed. This was followed by observations in weekly technology classes at a Senior centre in Oslo. The two field studies resulted in insights about elderly people's life situations, technology use and common problems that appear during use of technology. One important insight was that touch and tablets are widely used and accepted among elderly people. It was therefore decided to use tablets as platform for the video communication system. A prototype of a tablet interface was then developed and tested with elderly users. The project resulted in recommendations to use when designing a video communication system and touch interfaces for elderly users. It also resulted in a designed video communication system, OldPhone, derived by the use of these recommendations. Elderly people are a highly diverse user group, with many and changing needs. This creates a challenge for designers since the interfaces need to meet many different abilities. A recommendation is to use functions for adaptation, so the interface can be customised for the specific user. Some other recommendations are to avoid more than two level menus, and different commands for similar touch actions. An insight was also gained about the involvement of elderly users in participatory design - the importance of creating relationships with users for conducting a successful process.