Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
System of Weak Signal Detection Based on TD-SCDMA Dual Polarized Antenna

In the current signal measuring equipment in measurable characteristics under the condition of weak signal, the signal measurement accuracy is not high. Therefore, this study designs and realizes a kind of equipment based on TD - SCDMA dual polarized antenna for weak signal measurement system. System uses the 2.4 GHz ISM A7105 RF transmit- ter sent via baud generator clock for electromagnetic wave frequency control forming the local magnetic fields, the system design includes ICL7650 AD620 chip signal amplification module, combined with a module combination based on isola- tion MAX275 chips, by adjusting the built-in six resistance to noise filtering, in the design of TD -SCDMA dual polariza- tion antenna, through multiple columns of smart antenna radiation, to form the sensitivity of the dynamic contact, to strengthen the weak signal loss repair characteristic, for the synchronization of GPRS communication and AT89C51 MCU for weak signal processing; finally it realizes the weak signal accurate detection. Through the experiment testing, the system can, in complex environment, able for the accurate detection of weak signal. Compared with the traditional system, its detection accuracy by about 49%, reduced testing time by 5 seconds, has a strong practical application value. Keyword: Complex environment, dual polarized antenna, network topology, weak signal.
Sustainable Operations Management

Operations management researchers and practitioners face new challenges in integrating issues of sustainability with their traditional areas of interest. During the past 20 years, there has been growing pressure on businesses to pay more attention to the environmental and resource consequences of the products and services they offer and the processes they deploy. One symptom of this pressure is the movement towards triple bottom line reporting (3BL) concerning the relationship of profit, people, and the planet. The resulting challenges include integrating environmental, health, and safety concerns with green‐product design, lean and green operations, and closed‐loop supply chains. We review these and other “sustainability” themes covered in the first 50 issues of Production and Operations Management and conclude with some thoughts on future research challenges in sustainable operations management.
The Causal Relationship Between Government Spending and Revenue in an Oil-Dependent Economy: The Case of Nigeria

This paper applies the technique of Granger causality to determine the relationship between total government expenditure and revenue in Nigeria for the period 1970-2006. The findings of the study generally support the existence of bidirectional causality between government spending and tax revenue, suggesting that the fiscal synchronization hypothesis is confirmed for Nigeria.
A semi-regulated dual-output llc resonant converter for two-stage multiple-output conversion with wide input voltage range

A semi-regulated dual-output (SR-DO) LLC resonant converter is proposed for high step-down multiple output conversion with wide input voltage range. The proposed SR-DO LLC converter is used as the front-end converter for a two-stage multiple-output converter. The SR-DO LLC operates as a DC-DC converter with regulated outputs when the input voltage is low and as a DC-DC transformer with unregulated outputs when the input voltage is high to provide optimized intermediate DC-bus voltages for the second-stage point-of-load converters. A hybrid center-tapped and full-bridge rectifier is proposed for the SR-DO LLC converter. The switches and associated drivers are reduced with the proposed hybrid rectifier and hence high efficiency and high power density can be achieved. Experimental results are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed solutions.
Optimal Energy Efficient Scheduling based on VM Energy Consumption in Cloud

Cloud computing has emerged as a flexible and powerful computing platform which offers different types of services to users. However, the energy consumption and carbon emission in cloud data centre have massive impact on global environment triggering intense research in this area. Growth in demand for cloud based services is resulting in increasing of utilization of cloud resources and consequent increase in the energy consumption. While there is a need to maximize utilization of the resources, the energy consumption needs to be reduced. Therefore we need to determine the operational optimal point which reduces the energy consumption for a desired value of resource utilization. In this paper, we propose a technique to find such an optimal operational point in Cloud computing environment. The technique is based on measuring the energy consumption of VMs created for a task, classifying the VMs based on their energy consumption and resource utilization, and then performing scheduling of VMs. The time efficiency of this algorithm is . The effectiveness of the proposed technique has been verified by simulating on CloudSim. Experimental results confirm that the technique proposed here can significantly reduce energy consumption for the desired value of resource utilization.
Social event detection using multimodal clustering and integrating supervisory signals

A large variety of features can be extracted from raw multimedia items. Moreover, in many contexts, like in the case of multimedia uploaded by users of social media platforms, items may be linked to metadata that can be very useful for a variety of analysis tasks. Nevertheless, such features are typically heterogeneous and are difficult to combine in a unified representation that would be suitable for analysis. In this paper, we discuss the problem of clustering collections of multimedia items with the purpose of detecting social events. In order to achieve this, a novel multimodal clustering algorithm is proposed. The proposed method uses a known clustering in the currently examined domain, in order to supervise the multimodal fusion and clustering procedure. It is tested on the MediaEval social event detection challenge data and is compared to a multimodal spectral clustering approach that uses early fusion. By taking advantage of the explicit supervisory signal, it achieves superior clustering accuracy and additionally requires the specification of a much smaller number of parameters. Moreover, the proposed approach has wider scope; it is not only applicable to the task of social event detection, but to other multimodal clustering problems as well.
Distributed estimation in the presence of correlated noises

We propose a method for distributed sequential estimation in the presence of correlated noises. At each time slot, a node exchanges information with its neighbors and then updates the estimate by using the received information from its neighbors and its local observation. It is assumed that the noises have the Markov property with respect to the network topology. A doubly stochastic matrix for combining information from the nodes is employed to average the sufficient statistics over the network. We show that the performance of the proposed method converges to that of the centralized optimal estimator as the iterations go on. Therefore, our algorithm approaches the Cramér-Rao bound asymptotically.
Kissing-loop interaction between 5′ and 3′ ends of tick-borne Langat virus genome ‘bridges the gap’ between mosquito- and tick-borne flaviviruses in mechanisms of viral RNA cyclization: applications for virus attenuation and vaccine development

Insertion of microRNA target sequences into the flavivirus genome results in selective tissue-specific attenuation and host-range restriction of live attenuated vaccine viruses. However, previous strategies for miRNA-targeting did not incorporate a mechanism to prevent target elimination under miRNA-mediated selective pressure, restricting their use in vaccine development. To overcome this limitation, we developed a new approach for miRNA-targeting of tick-borne flavivirus (Langat virus, LGTV) in the duplicated capsid gene region (DCGR). Genetic stability of viruses with DCGR was ensured by the presence of multiple cis-acting elements within the N-terminal capsid coding region, including the stem-loop structure (5′SL6) at the 3′ end of the promoter. We found that the 5′SL6 functions as a structural scaffold for the conserved hexanucleotide motif at its tip and engages in a complementary interaction with the region present in the 3′ NCR to enhance viral RNA replication. The resulting kissing-loop interaction, common in tick-borne flaviviruses, supports a single pair of cyclization elements (CYC) and functions as a homolog of the second pair of CYC that is present in the majority of mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Placing miRNA targets into the DCGR results in superior attenuation of LGTV in the CNS and does not interfere with development of protective immunity in immunized mice.
The Effect of Residence Area on Motor Skill Development among Children

Environmental influences such as residence effect on athletic talent identification and development have become an interest topic for sport scientists. Residence effects occur when being live in a certain city size leads to participation or performance advantages, typically for those live in smaller or mid-sized cities. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the child's residence area on child's motor development. A total 928 boys (aged 7.36 ± 0.29 year) and 1093 girls (aged 7.37 ± 0.29 year) was randomly selected from 215 primary schools in Selangor, Malaysia. With respect to their type of residence area, 110 schools located in urban area and 115 schools located in rural area. They were tested on the two anthropometric measurement (weight and height) and four motor subscales (power, flexibility, speed and coordination). Result showed that children from urban area tends to have higher anthropometrics and better motor skill development. It also suggested that child’ residence structure plays an important role in motor skill development, and that these structures are influenced by certain city-sized and people lifestyle.
Disc galaxy evolution along the Hubble sequence

Galaxy discs are characterized by star formation histories that vary systematically along the Hubble sequence. We study global star formation, incorporating supernova feedback, gas accretion and enriched outflows in discs modelled by a multiphase interstellar medium in a fixed gravitational potential. The star formation histories, gas distributions and chemical evolution can be explained in a simple sequence of models which are primarily regulated by the cold gas accretion history.
Energy balance in critical illness

Energy balance is the difference between energy consumed and total energy expended. Over a given period of time it expresses how much the body stores of fat, carbohydrate and protein will change. For the critically-ill patient, who characteristically exhibits raised energy expenditure and proteolysis of skeletal muscle, energy balance information is valuable because underfeeding or overfeeding may compromise recovery. However, there are formidable difficulties in measuring energy balance in these patients. While energy intake can be accurately recorded in the intensive care setting, the measurement of total energy expenditure is problematic. Widely used approaches, such as direct calorimetry or doubly-labelled water, are not applicable to the critically ill patient. Energy balance was determined over periods of 5–10 d in patients in intensive care by measuring changes in the fat, protein and carbohydrate stores of the body. Changes in total body fat were positively correlated with energy balance over the 5 d study periods in patients with severe sepsis (n24, r 0.56, P=0.004) or major trauma (n 24, r 0.70, P<.0001). Fat oxidation occurred in patients whose energy intake was insufficient to achieve energy balance. Changes in body protein were independent of energy balance. These results are consistent with those of other researchers who have estimated total energy requirements from measurements of O2 consumption and CO2 production. In critically-ill patients achievement of positive non-protein energy balance or total energy balance does not prevent negative N balance. Nutritional therapy for these patients may in the future focus on glycaemic control with insulin and specialised supplements rather than on energy balance per se.
Fusing Spatial, Pictorial and Photometric Data to Build Photorealistic Models

We are working on several projects related to the automatic fusion and high-level interpretation of 3D sensor data for building models of real-world objects and scenes. Our major goal is to create rich and geometrically correct, scalable photorealistic 3D models based on multimodal data obtained using a laser scanner, a camera and illumination sources. In this report, we present a sophisticated software system that processes and fuses geometric, pictorial and photometric data using genetic algorithms and efficient methods of computer vision.
Scleral biomechanics in the aging monkey eye.

PURPOSE To investigate the age-related differences in the inhomogeneous, anisotropic, nonlinear biomechanical properties of posterior sclera from old (22.9 +/- 5.3 years) and young (1.5 +/- 0.7 years) rhesus monkeys. METHODS The posterior scleral shell of each eye was mounted on a custom-built pressurization apparatus, then intraocular pressure (IOP) was elevated from 5 to 45 mm Hg while the 3D displacements of the scleral surface were measured with speckle interferometry. Each scleral shell's geometry was digitally reconstructed from data generated by a 3-D digitizer (topography) and 20-MHz ultrasound (thickness). An inverse finite element (FE) method incorporating a fiber-reinforced constitutive model was used to extract a unique set of biomechanical properties for each eye. Displacements, thickness, stress, strain, tangent modulus, structural stiffness, and preferred collagen fiber orientation were mapped for each posterior sclera. RESULTS The model yielded 3-D deformations of posterior sclera that matched well with those observed experimentally. The posterior sclera exhibited inhomogeneous, anisotropic, nonlinear mechanical behavior. The sclera was significantly thinner (P = 0.038) and tangent modulus and structural stiffness were significantly higher in old monkeys (P < 0.0001). On average, scleral collagen fibers were circumferentially oriented around the optic nerve head (ONH). No difference was found in the preferred collagen fiber orientation and fiber concentration factor between age groups. CONCLUSIONS Posterior sclera of old monkeys is significantly stiffer than that of young monkeys and is therefore subject to higher stresses but lower strains at all levels of IOP. Age-related stiffening of the sclera may significantly influence ONH biomechanics and potentially contribute to age-related susceptibility to glaucomatous vision loss.
Effects of Changes in Food Supply at the Time of Sex Differentiation on the Gonadal Transcriptome of Juvenile Fish. Implications for Natural and Farmed Populations

Background Food supply is a major factor influencing growth rates in animals. This has important implications for both natural and farmed fish populations, since food restriction may difficult reproduction. However, a study on the effects of food supply on the development of juvenile gonads has never been transcriptionally described in fish. Methods and Findings This study investigated the consequences of growth on gonadal transcriptome of European sea bass in: 1) 4-month-old sexually undifferentiated fish, comparing the gonads of fish with the highest vs. the lowest growth, to explore a possible link between transcriptome and future sex, and 2) testis from 11-month-old juveniles where growth had been manipulated through changes in food supply. The four groups used were: i) sustained fast growth, ii) sustained slow growth, iii) accelerated growth, iv) decelerated growth. The transcriptome of undifferentiated gonads was not drastically affected by initial natural differences in growth. Further, changes in the expression of genes associated with protein turnover were seen, favoring catabolism in slow-growing fish and anabolism in fast-growing fish. Moreover, while fast-growing fish took energy from glucose, as deduced from the pathways affected and the analysis of protein-protein interactions examined, in slow-growing fish lipid metabolism and gluconeogenesis was favored. Interestingly, the highest transcriptomic differences were found when forcing initially fast-growing fish to decelerate their growth, while accelerating growth of initially slow-growing fish resulted in full transcriptomic convergence with sustained fast-growing fish. Conclusions Food availability during sex differentiation shapes the juvenile testis transcriptome, as evidenced by adaptations to different energy balances. Remarkably, this occurs in absence of major histological changes in the testis. Thus, fish are able to recover transcriptionally their testes if they are provided with enough food supply during sex differentiation; however, an initial fast growth does not represent any advantage in terms of transcriptional fitness if later food becomes scarce.
Quantum temporal logic and decoherence functionals in the histories approach to generalized quantum theory

The recent suggestion that a temporal form of quantum logic provides the natural mathematical framework within which to discuss the proposal by Gell‐Mann and Hartle for a generalized form of quantum theory based on the ideas of histories and decoherence functionals is analyzed and developed herein. Particular stress is placed on properties of the space of decoherence functionals, including one way in which certain global and topological properties of a classical system are reflected in a quantum history theory.
Event-Triggered linear control design for an Antilock Braking System

Event-Triggered control is a resource-aware sampling strategy that updates the control value when a certain condition is satisfied, which denotes event instants. Such technique allows to reduce the control computational cost and communications. In this paper an Event-Triggered linear control for an Antilock Braking System is developed and simulated using the mathematical model of the ABS laboratory setup, manufactured by INTECO. The proposed feedback ensures the asymptotically stability of the ABS.
Megakaryocytic leukemia 1 (MKL1) ties the epigenetic machinery to hypoxia-induced transactivation of endothelin-1

Increased synthesis of endothelin-1 (ET-1) by human vascular endothelial cells (HVECs) in response to hypoxia underscores persistent vasoconstriction observed in patients with pulmonary hypertension. The molecular mechanism whereby hypoxia stimulates ET-1 gene transcription is not well understood. Here we report that megakaryocytic leukemia 1 (MKL1) potentiated hypoxia-induced ET-1 transactivation in HVECs. Disruption of MKL1 activity by either a dominant negative mutant or small interfering RNA mediated knockdown dampened ET-1 synthesis. MKL1 was recruited to the proximal ET-1 promoter region (−81/+150) in HVECs challenged with hypoxic stress by the sequence-specific transcription factor serum response factor (SRF). Depletion of SRF blocked MKL1 recruitment and blunted ET-1 transactivation by hypoxia. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis of the ET-1 promoter revealed that MKL1 loss-of-function erased histone modifications consistent with transcriptional activation. In addition, MKL1 was indispensable for the occupancy of Brg1 and Brm, key components of the chromatin remodeling complex, on the ET-1 promoter. Brg1 and Brm modulated ET-1 transactivation by impacting histone modifications. In conclusion, our data have delineated a MKL1-centered complex that links epigenetic maneuverings to ET-1 transactivation in HVECs under hypoxic conditions.
Reflections on Language Transformation at Nelson Mandela University

Abstract After a brief overview of the historical bilingual and parallel-medium language policies of universities in South Africa, this article highlights the limited implementation of the Language Policy for Higher Education in South Africa (2002), the resulting linguistic challenges faced by students in university classrooms, and the coping mechanisms they have developed. Thereafter, it reflects on successful formalised national and international practices before arguing the case for the inclusion of similar language practices in the curricula of South African universities in general and of Nelson Mandela University in particular.
A hierarchical evolutionary approach to multi-objective optimization

This work describes a hierarchical evolutionary approach to Pareto-based multi-objective optimization. Using the SEAMO algorithm (a simple evolutionary algorithm for multi-objective optimization) as a basis, it demonstrates how it is possible to obtain a better spread of results if subpopulations of various sizes are used in a simple hierarchical framework. Three alternative hierarchical models are tried and the results compared.
A pedicled autologous choroid RPE patch: a technique to preserve perfusion

The aim of the study is to report a technique of a pedicled autologous choroid retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) patch that aims to preserve perfusion of the transplanted tissue. A case report of a patient with sudden vision deterioration due to submacular hemorrhage in age-related macular degeneration. The surgery involved a 180-degree peripheral retinectomy and the creation of a pedicled graft instead of an isolated one. Outcome measures included preoperative and postoperative visual acuity and optical coherence tomography scans at 1, 3, 6, 12 months and patch vascularization on postoperative indocyanine green angiography. Postoperatively the patch was positioned under the fovea with an intact pedicle. Indocyanine green angiography showed perfusion through the pedicle and patch vasculature on the third postoperative day. Best corrected visual acuity improved from 0.5/50 to 5/50 at 1 month and remained stable over 1 year follow-up. No choroidal neovascularization recurrence was observed. This case report demonstrates the feasibility of a pedicled RPE-choroid graft that is an alternative to a free isolated graft. Our modification of patch surgery, by demonstrating early perfusion, offers an advantage, similar to macular translocation, when photoreceptors are embedded in RPE and choroid with blood circulation immediately after the surgery.
High-Level Goal Recognition in a Wireless LAN

Plan recognition has traditionally been developed for logically encoded application domains with a focus on logical reasoning. In this paper, we present an integrated plan-recognition model that combines low-level sensory readings with high-level goal inference. A two-level architecture is proposed to infer a user's goals in a complex indoor environment using an RF-based wireless network. The novelty of our work derives from our ability to infer a user's goals from sequences of signal trajectory, and the ability for us to make a trade-off between model accuracy and inference efficiency. The model relies on a dynamic Bayesian network to infer a user's actions from raw signals, and an N-gram model to infer the users' goals from actions. We present a method for constructing the model from the past data and demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed solution through empirical studies using some real data that we have collected.