Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TOWARDS GLOBALLY CONSISTENT SCAN MATCHINGWITH GROUND TRUTH INTEGRATION

Abstract. The scan matching based simultaneous localization and mapping method with six dimensional poses is capable of creating a three dimensional point cloud map of the environment, as well as estimating the six dimensional path that the vehicle has travelled. The essence of it is the registering and matching of sequentially acquired 3D laser scans, while moving along a path, in a common coordinate frame in order to provide 6D pose estimations at the respective positions, as well as create a three dimensional map of the environment. An approach that could drastically improve the reliability of acquired data is to integrate available ground truth information. This paper is about implementing such functionality as a contribution to 6D SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping with 6 DoF) in the 3DTK – The 3D Toolkit software (Nuchter and Lingemann, 2011), as well as test the functionality of the implementation using real world datasets.
The Influence of Reciprocal interactions in the Family on Academic Performance among Secondary School Students in Kenya

This study aimed to investigate the influence of reciprocal interactions in the family on academic performance among secondary school students in Siaya District. Stratified and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. The sample comprised of a total of 243 students (154 boys and 89 girls) drawn from 27 public coeducational schools in the district. Data was collected using student questionnaires. The researchers’ judgment of the representativeness of the items in the questionnaire to the study topic was used to determine content validity of the instrument while Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to ascertain validity and reliability of the instrument. Linear regression analysis and one way Analysis of Variance were used to analyze data. The results revealed significant relationship between reciprocal interactions in the family and academic performance of students. There was positive correlation between parental expectation, autonomy granting, cross-sex behaviour and students’ academic performance. Siblings’ sex dyads and birth order were also found to correlate with students’ academic performance. The findings may be used by policy makers to sensitize parents and students on the significance of specific interactions in the family on academic performance.
A Rapamycin-Enhanced Autophagy Reduces Neural Apoptosis by Blocking Bax Mitochondral Translation and Cytochrome C Release in Acute Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe central nerve system damage. The actual roles of autophagy in the context of SCI remain controversial. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of enhanced autophagy on neural apoptosis in rat SCI model. Rapamycin or vehicle was given via an intraperitoneal injection after SCI. Spinal cord samples were extracted 24 hr after SCI. The level of phosphorylation of p70S6K was significantly reduced whereas expression of LC3-II/LC3-I was significantly increased after rapamycin treatment. Rapamycin treatment markedly reduced caspase-3 activity and staining density of TUNEL, but increased NeuN expression within the injured spinal cord. Moreover, rapamycin treatment reduced Bax translocation to the mitochondria and the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol. Rapamycin-treated rats showed significantly higher locomotor function in BBB scores compared with vehicletreated rats. Our results demonstrated rapamycinenhanced autophagy reduced neuronal apoptosis via inhibiting mTOR signal pathway, and improved locomotory recovery in rat SCI model. The antiapoptotic mechanism was related to the enhancement of autophagy, which ameliorated neural apoptosis through a mitochondrial pathway.
Volcanic synchronisation between the EPICA Dome C and Vostok ice cores (Antarctica) 0-145 kyr BP

This study aims at refining the synchronisation between the EPICA Dome C (EDC) and Vostok ice cores in the time interval 0-145 kyr BP by using the volcanic signatures. 102 common volcanic events were identified by using continuous electrical conductivity (ECM), di-electrical profiling (DEP) and sulfate measurements while trying to minimize the distortion of the glaciological chronologies. This is an update and a continuation of previous works performed over the 0-45 kyr interval that provided 56 tie points to the ice core chronologies (Udisti et al., 2004). This synchronisation will serve to establish Antarctic Ice Core Chronology 2012, the next synchronised Antarctic dating. A change of slope in the EDC-depth/Vostok-depth diagram is probably related to a change of accumulation regime as well as to a change of ice thickness upstream of the Lake Vostok, but we did not invoke any significant temporal change of surface accumulation at EDC relative to Vostok. No significant phase difference is detected between the EDC and Vostok isotopic records, but depth shifts between the Vostok 3G and 5G ice cores prevent from looking at this problem accurately. Three possible candidates for the Toba volcanic super-eruption similar to 73 kyr ago are suggested in the Vostok and EDC volcanic records. Neither the ECM, DEP nor the sulfate fingerprints for these 3 events are significantly larger than many others in the records.
AIR FLOW PROFILE EVALUATION AROUND MOVING VEHICLE DEENESH KUMAR A/L NALATHAMBI A project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the Degree of Master of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Highway lighting at night does increase the electricity costing because despite using solar energy to generate the electric for the lighting, mostly still uses direct current to work. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the air flow dispersed around moving vehicles and the wind turbine selection in harnessing electricity from the air flow dispersed. Solidworks and ANSYS software were used in modeling the vehicles and to analyze the flow characteristic, respectively. Analyses were done by the selection of 3 different vehicles which are a sedan car, a MPV and a bus by considering 3 different velocities i.e. 80km/h, 100km/h and 120km/h at 2 different environments which are the open road highway and road tunnel. Simulation computed the velocity field of the flow around the vehicles and also the turbine. The maximum wind speed dispersed obtained were used to calculate the wind power and mechanical power of the turbine analytically. It proves that the increment of vehicle’s speed increases the wind speed dispersed thus increasing the power generated by the selected wind turbine, Savonius Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with Two Semicircular blades.
PARALLEL PROCESSING OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL, POINT-OF-CARE BIO-APPLICATIONS ON ELECTROWETTING CHIPS

We report on performing parallel processing on electrowetting-based digital microfluidic chips by taking advantage of reconfigurable architecture combined with programmable control, scalability, and contamination-free liquid handling. The opportunity is to increase throughput of processes such as sample preparation, biomolecular extraction, and cytotoxicity screening through on-chip resource sharing and without the need for large microfluidic chip I/O.
Seasonal changes in the taxonomic composition of bacterioplankton in a coastal oligotrophic system

The succession of taxa within the bacterioplankton assemblage was followed over a whole seasonal cycle in Blanes Bay, an oligotrophic coastal system (average chl a: 0.5 µg l -1 ) in the NW Mediterranean Sea. Phylogenetic composition of the bacterioplankton was studied by means of DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) and sequencing of predominant bands. Analysis of DGGE fingerprints showed gradual changes in the dominant bacterial members over the sampling period. The time scale during which a single population appeared in significant amounts in the sys- tem ranged between weeks and months. Most of the DGGE bands sequenced showed high similari- ties to sequences of uncultured marine bacteria. The bacterial assemblage appeared to be dominated by members of α -Proteobacteria (mostly from the Roseobacter clade), Cytophaga-Flavobacteria-Bac- teroides (CFB) and cyanobacteria throughout the year. Two bands related to prasinophyte chloro- plasts were detected, whereas no bands related to SAR11 (α -Proteobacteria) or SAR86 (γ-Proteobac- teria) clusters were found. Contrasting with the relative stability of broad phylogenetic groups, examination of bands belonging to α -Proteobacteria, CFB and cyanobacteria revealed a substitution of closely related phylotypes during the seasonal cycle within each one of these 3 groups. Overall, the taxonomic composition of the bacterioplankton in this coastal marine system appeared to be rather stable in time, showing gradual changes throughout the year.
Working Paper Series , N . 6 , April 2011 A nuclear power renaissance ?

Nuclear energy has been experiencing a revival in many countries, since it is considered to be a possible substitute for fossil fuels for electricity generation. This calls for a focused analysis, in order to evaluate whether conditions exist for its wide employment. While typical aspects against this option have to do with waste management, security of power plants and related health concerns, other issues less frequently considered by politics, mass media, and public opinion seem particularly crucial to understand if we are really going to face a nuclear energy renaissance. In particular, nuclear energy is well known to depend on parallel dynamics of uranium extraction and reactor startup. In this paper we apply an innovation diffusion framework to model co-evolutionary processes of uranium extraction, reactor startup and nuclear energy consumption at a world level. We also perform an analysis of nuclear consumption dynamics in France, Japan, and the USA, which are the three countries that are mostly invested in it. The results obtained by analyzing all of these processes do not seem to support the idea of a new era for nuclear energy.
Super-resolution photoacoustic microscopy using a localized near-field of a plasmonic nanoaperture: a three-dimensional simulation study

Super-resolution microscopy has been increasingly important to delineate nanoscale biological structures or nanoparticles. With these increasing demands, several imaging modalities, including super-resolution fluorescence microscope (SRFM) and electron microscope (EM), have been developed and commercialized. These modalities achieve nanoscale resolution, however, SRFM cannot image without fluorescence, and sample preparation of EM is not suitable for biological specimens. To overcome those disadvantages, we have numerically studied the possibility of superresolution photoacoustic microscopy (SR-PAM) based on near-field localization of light. Photoacoustic (PA) signal is generally acquired based on optical absorption contrast; thus it requires no agents or pre-processing for the samples. The lateral resolution of the conventional photoacoustic microscopy is limited to ~200 nm by diffraction limit, therefore reducing the lateral resolution is a major research impetus. Our approach to breaking resolution limit is to use laser pulses of extremely small spot size as a light source. In this research, we simulated the PA signal by constructing the three dimensional SR-PAM system environment using the k-Wave toolbox. As the light source, we simulated ultrashort light pulses using geometrical nanoaperture with near-field localization of surface plasmons. Through the PA simulation, we have successfully distinguish cuboids spaced 3 nm apart. In the near future, we will develop the SR-PAM and it will contribute to biomedical and material sciences.
Calibration of Implied Volatility in Generalized Hull-White Model

This paper concerns a problem of calibrating implied volatility in generalized Hull-White model from the market prices of zero-coupon bonds. By using the regularization method, we establish the existence and stability of the optimal solution, and give the necessary condition that the solution satisfies. Finally numerical results show that the method is stable and effective.
Two type Ic supernovae in low-metallicity, dwarf galaxies: Diversity of explosions

Aims. The aim of this paper is to discuss the nature of two type Ic supernovae SN 2007bg and SN 2007bi and their host galaxies. Both supernovae were discovered in wide-field, non-targeted surveys and are found to be associated with sub-luminous blue dwarf galaxies identified in SDSS images. Methods. We present BVRI photometry and optical spectroscopy of SN 2007bg and SN 2007bi and their host galaxies. Their lightcurves and spectra are compared to those of other type Ic SNe and analysis of these data provides estimates of the energetics, total ejected masses and synthesised mass of 56 Ni. Detection of the host galaxy emission lines allows for metallicity measurements. Results. Neither SNe 2007bg nor 2007bi were found in association with an observed GRB, but from estimates of the metallicities of their host-galaxies they are found to inhabit similar low-metallicity environments as GRB associated supernovae. The radio-bright SN 2007bg is hosted by an extremely sub-luminous galaxy of magnitude MB = −12.4 ± 0.6 mag and an estimated oxygen abundance of 12 + log(O/H) = 8.18 ± 0.17 (on the Pettini & Pagel 2004 scale). The early lightcurve evolution of SN 2007bg matches the fastpace decline of SN 1994I giving it one of the fastest post-maximum decline rates of all broad-lined type Ic supernovae known to date and, when combined with its high expansion velocities, a high kinetic energy to ejected mass ratio (EK/Mej ∼ 2.7). We also show that SN 2007bi is possibly the most luminous type Ic known, reaching a peak magnitude of MR ∼− 21.3 mag and displays a remarkably slow decline, following the radioactive decay rate of 56 Co to 56 Fe throughout the course of its observed lifetime. SN 2007bi also displays an extreme longevity in its spectral evolution and is still not fully nebular at approximately one year post-maximum brightness. From a simple model of the bolometric light curve of SN 2007bi we estimate a total ejected 56 Ni mass of MNi = 3.5−4.5 M� ,t he largest 56 Ni mass measured in the ejecta of a supernova to date. There are two models that could explain the high luminosity and large ejected 56 Ni mass. One is a pair-instability supernova (PISN) which has been predicted to occur for massive stars at low metallicities. We measure the host galaxy metallicity of SN 2007bi to be 12 + log(O/H) = 8.15 ± 0.15 (on the McGaugh 1991 scale) which is �
Customer perceptions of relationship marketing orientation: a comparative study between public and private commercial banks in Sri Lanka

The main aim of this research study is to compare the Relationship Marketing Orientation (RMO) between public and private commercial banks in Sri Lanka. Thus, the findings of this study can possibly be useful to promote application of Relationship Marketing Orientation in both public and private banks in Sri Lanka. The theory of social exchange provides a theoretical base for this study. Trust, bonding, communication, shared value, empathy and reciprocity were considered as dimensions of the RMO. The data obtained from 1002 customers of Sri Lankan commercial banks were analyzed to test relevant hypotheses. The findings revealed that Relationship Marketing Orientation of private banks is significantly higher than that of public banks. In particular, in terms of individual dimensions of the RMO, Bonding, Shared Value and Empathy of the private banks seemed to be significantly higher than those of the public banks. Nevertheless, public banks were more trustworthy than private banks. Based on these findings, we have provided interesting implications and recommendations to the both private and public banks.
Physical Employment Standards for UK Firefighters Minimum Muscular Strength and Endurance Requirements

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess sensitivity and specificity of surrogate physical ability tests as predictors of criterion firefighting task performance and to identify corresponding minimum muscular strength and endurance standards. Methods: Fifty-one (26 male; 25 female) participants completed three criterion tasks (ladder lift, ladder lower, ladder extension) and three corresponding surrogate tests [one-repetition maximum (1RM) seated shoulder press; 1RM seated rope pull-down; repeated 28kg seated rope pull-down]. Surrogate test standards were calculated that best identified individuals who passed (sensitivity; true positives) and failed (specificity; true negatives) criterion tasks. Results: Best sensitivity/specificity achieved were 1.00/1.00 for a 35kg seated shoulder press, 0.79/0.92 for a 60kg rope pull-down, and 0.83/0.93 for 23 repetitions of the 28kg rope pull-down. Conclusions: These standards represent performance on surrogate tests commensurate with minimum acceptable performance of essential strength-based occupational tasks in UK firefighters.
Occurrences of damaging earthquakes between the Himachal and Darjeeling Himalayas: Tectonic implications

Detailed analysis of intensity for ten damaging historical earthquakes in the central arcuate belt between the Himachal and Darjeeling Himalayas was carried out in the backdrop of isoseismal eccentricity, source depth and Indian plate obliquity. Results indicate that the elongated axes of the isoseismals and strike of ruptures for shallow earthquakes are almost parallel with strike of the Himalayan arc, and clearly conformable with the obliquity. An empirical power law relationship between eccentricity and focal depth established under the present study illustrates that the deeper events are more influenced by the bending of the penetrating Indian lithosphere, whereas the shallower events are principally controlled by the obliquity. A positive correlation between eccentricities and obliquity obviously supports this inference. The present study further reveals that the constant decrease in Indian plate obliquity from Himachal to Nepal-Bihar Himalaya is well compatible with the graben structures and horizontal shearing along this arcuate segment.
Fuzzy Matching and Merging of Family Trees using a Graph Database

Association for computer aided genealogy research of Sweden(DIS) is investigating the possibility of a nationwide genealogical database (RGD) of Sweden's historical population. The finished database should contain basic information about individuals' names, birth, marriage, death, and individuals' relationships such as father, mother, husband/wife and children. This will make up a kind of graph over the ancestry of Sweden historical population were persons are connected to each other according to ancestry. The idea is that different genealogists should add already finished pedigrees (family trees). The problem is that the same pedigree can be inserted by two different genealogist. RGD has to find these duplicates and merge them. In this thesis a test application for RGD is made in small scale using the graph database Neo4j and the document search tool Lucene. The focus is on finding and merging duplicated pedigrees. The test application made was able to upload files containing multiple pedigrees and merge them into a graph that was stored in Neo4j. This merging process had a linear time complexity in relation to how many families that were merged. A family in this thesis means family unit containing father, mother and children. Storing the biggest available file (20000 persons and 6500 families) in an empty database and then inserting the second biggest (10000 persons and 3000 families) took about 2 min and 30 seconds. The result was about 1200 family merges. This was done on the laptop Lenovo N500. Lenovo N500 has a Dual CPU T3200(2GHz) and 3GB RAM. The accuracy of the algorithm was compared to a previously made application. Both applications were tested on the same data-set. The result from the tests was the overlap of families merged by both applications. Then precision and recall was calculated for the test application considering the previous application gave all the correct family merges. There were two precision and recall scores estimated. The better one of those two gave the precision 97% and the recall 81%. The F-score for the system was 88%.
A kinetic model for the first stage of pygas upgrading

Pyrolysis gasoline - PYGAS - is an intermediate boiling product of naphtha steam cracking with a high octane number and high aromatic/unsaturated contents. Due to stabilization concerns, PYGAS must be hydrotreated in two stages. The first stage uses a mild trickle-bed conversion for removing extremely reactive species (styrene, dienes and olefins) prior to the more severe second stage where sulfured and remaining olefins are hydrogenated in gas phase. This work addresses the reaction network and two-phase kinetic model for the first stage of PYGAS upgrading. Nonlinear estimation was used for model tuning with kinetic data obtained in bench-scale trickle-bed hydrogenation with a commercial Pd/Al2O3 catalyst. On-line sampling experiments were designed to study the influence of variables - temperature and spatial velocity - on the conversion of styrene, dienes and olefins.
Effect of connection design on the contact resistance of high power overlapping bolted joints

The effect of design changes on the contact resistance of overlapping bolted/pad joints was investigated. It was found that slanting the edges of the bus-bars/pads under 45/spl deg/ and making slots in the overlapping areas significantly reduce the contact resistance of a joint and improve its mechanical integrity. These improvements are results of enlarged contact area and creation of a uniform current distribution at the contact interface.
A Note on Testing for Unit Roots in the Unobservable Trend Component of a Structural Model

Testing for unit roots is a common practice in observable stochastic processes and there is abundant literature on this topic. However, sometimes, one is faced with the same problem but in the case where the processes of interest are latent or unobservable. In this paper, empirical distributions of the usual unit-root test statistics are obtained for the trend component of some particular structural models, which are based on optimal predictions (as the observed data) of the trend stochastic process. It is found that these statistical tests tend to be most powerful than the usual Dickey-Fuller tests.
Features Extraction Technique for ECG Recording Paper

Generally the ECG is recorded on a thermal paper which cannot be stored for a long time, because thermal trace over time becomes erased gradually. However some hospitals are saving the ECG thermal papers as scanning images in the electronic equipments (like computers) to maintain medical records, but this method needs to high memory capacity, and use less scanning resolution that gives signal accuracy is less at preview. In this paper image processing techniques are developed for an electrocardiogram (ECG) feature extraction and signal regeneration as a digital time series signal. The 12-lead ECG signals extracted from the recording paper and converting it to a digital time series signals. Feature extraction and the digital time series signal were tested on 30 of 12-lead ECG paper records from the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database, and the accuracy was between 96.31% and 98.25%. In addition this techniques also can be used for features extraction to perform an automatic heart disease classification using one of the artificial intelligence methods.