Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How does the phrasing of house edge information affect gamblers’ perceptions and level of understanding? A Registered Report

The provision of information to consumers is a common input to tackling various public health issues. By comparison to the information given on food and alcohol products, information on gambling products is either not given at all, or shown in low-prominence locations in a suboptimal format, e.g. the ‘ return-to-player ’ format, ‘ this game has an average percentage payout of 90% ’ . Some previous research suggests that it would be advantageous to communicate this information via the ‘ house edge ’ format instead: the average loss from a given gambling product, e.g. ‘ this game keeps 10% of all money bet on average ’ . However, previous empirical work on the house edge format only uses this specific phrasing, and there may be better ways of communicating house edge information. The present work experimentally tested this original phrasing of the house edge against an alternative phrasing that has also been proposed, ‘ on average this game is programmed to cost you 10% of your stake on each bet ’ , while both phrasings were also compared against equivalent return-to-player information ( N ¼ 3333 UK-based online gamblers). The two dependent measures were gamblers ’ perceived chances of winning and a measure of participants ’ correct understanding. Preregistered Stage 1 protocol: https://osf.io/5npy9 (date of in-principle acceptance: 28/11/2022). The alternative house edge phrasing resulted in the lowest perceived chances of winning, but the original phrasing had the highest rate of correct understanding. Compared to return-to-player information, the original phrasing had both lower perceived chances of winning and higher rates of correct understanding, while the alternative phrasing had only lower perceived chances of winning. These results replicated prior work on the advantages of the original house edge phrasing over return-to-player information, while showing that the alternative house edge phrasing has advantageous properties for gamblers ’ perceived chances of winning only. The optimal communication of risk information can act as an input to a public health approach to reducing gambling-related harm.
Fetal Supraventricular Tachycardia: Histologic Evidence of Accessory Pathways Due to Incomplete Annulus Fibrosus Formation

Background: Atrioventricular (AV) reentrant tachycardia is a common type of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) that occurs in the fetus and neonate. Although many tachycardias resolve within several weeks of birth or respond to medical management, disruptions in the cardiac annulus fibrosus and development of additional accessory pathways may lead to refractory dysrhythmia resulting in fetal hydrops and ultimately, fetal death. Objectives: While accessory pathways have been well documented anatomically in adult and childhood tachyarrhythmias, there are no reports of the histology of these pathways in human fetuses with SVT. Research Design, Subjects, Measures: This is a small case series of 2 fetuses with a history of SVT that resulted in fetal hydrops. Results: In both cases, examination of the cardiac conduction system was unremarkable and examination of the atrioventricular junction revealed a focally thinned and/or discontinuous annulus fibrosus with documented direct continuity between the atrial and ventricular myocardium in 1 case. Conclusions: This case series demonstrates that thinning or absence of the annulus fibrosus is a feature seen in fetal SVT, and the development of subsequent aberrant AV connections due to defective formation of the annulus fibrosus suggests a possible cause for these arrhythmias.
Efficient aggregation of face embeddings for decentralized face recognition deployments (extended version)

Biometrics are one of the most privacy-sensitive data. Ubiquitous authentication systems with a focus on privacy favor decentralized approaches as they reduce potential attack vectors, both on a technical and organizational level. The gold standard is to let the user be in control of where their own data is stored, which consequently leads to a high variety of devices used. Moreover, in comparison with a centralized system, designs with higher end-user freedom often incur additional network overhead. Therefore, when using face recognition for biometric authentication, an efficient way to compare faces is important in practical deployments, because it reduces both network and hardware requirements that are essential to encourage device diversity. This paper proposes an efficient way to aggregate embeddings used for face recognition based on an extensive analysis on different datasets and the use of different aggregation strategies. As part of this analysis, a new dataset has been collected, which is available for research purposes. Our proposed method supports the construction of massively scalable, decentralized face recognition systems with a focus on both privacy and long-term usability.
Terahertz repetition frequencies from harmonic mode-locked monolithic compound-cavity laser diodes

Compound-cavity laser diodes are mode locked at a harmonic of the fundamental round-trip frequency to achieve repetition rates of up to 2.1 THz. The devices are fabricated from GaAs/AlGaAs material at a wavelength of 860 nm and incorporate two gain sections with an etched slot reflector between them, and a saturable absorber section. Autocorrelation studies are used to investigate device behavior for different reflector types and reflectivity. These lasers may find applications in terahertz imaging, medicine, ultrafast optical links, and atmospheric sensing.
The Liouville–Neumann approximation of the regular solutions of the Heun's equations

We consider the standard, the confluent and the biconfluent Heun's differential equations. We apply the Liouville–Neumann expansion at a regular singular point introduced in Lopez, [J.L. Lopez, The Liouville–Neumann expansion at a regular singular point, J. Diff. Equ. Appl. 15(2) (2009), pp. 119–132] to approximate the regular solution at the origin of these three differential equations. We design, for each of the three Heun's functions, a sequence of elementary functions (rational functions and polylogarithms) that converges uniformly over compacts to the given Heun's function. This sequence (Liouville–Neumann expansion) is defined by means of an integral recurrence. Some numerical experiments show that the convergence of the Liouville–Neumann expansion is extraordinarily fast.
STREAM: Toward READ-Based In-Memory Computing for Streaming-Based Processing for Data-Intensive Applications

With the rise of data-intensive applications, traditional computing paradigms have hit the memory-wall. In-memory computing using emerging nonvolatile memory (NVM) technology is a promising solution strategy to overcome the limitations of the von-Neumann architecture. In-memory computing using NVM devices has been explored in both analog and digital domains. Analog in-memory computing can perform matrix–vector multiplication (MVM) in an extremely energy-efficient manner. However, analog in-memory computing is prone to errors and resulting precision is therefore low. On the contrary, digital in-memory computing is a viable option for accelerating scientific computations that require deterministic precision. In recent years, several digital in-memory computing styles have been proposed. Unfortunately, state-of-the-art digital in-memory computing styles rely on repeated WRITE operations which involve switching of NVM devices. WRITE operations in NVM cells are expensive in terms of energy, latency, and device endurance. In this article, we propose a READ-based in-memory computing framework called STREAM. The framework performs streaming-based data processing for data-intensive applications. The STREAM framework consists of a synthesis tool that decomposes an arbitrary Boolean function into in-memory compute kernels. Two synthesis approaches are proposed to generate READ-based in-memory compute kernels using data structures from logic synthesis. A hardware/software co-design technique is developed to minimize the intercrossbar data communication. The STREAM framework is evaluated using circuits from the ISCAS85 benchmark suite, and Suite-Sparse applications to scientific computing. Compared with state-of-the-art in-memory computing framework, the proposed framework improves latency and energy performance with up to $200 \times $ and $20\times $ , respectively.
Tracking Cell Motion : A Boundary-Based Approach

Tracking of a cell motion is studied in this paper based on a curved boundary representation technique. In cases where the internal source of the motion of a cell is not known, the alternative approach to tracking and estimating the motion is using the shape information. Some of the techniques in curved boundary are reviewed in this paper, and an approach that segments and describes boundaries to obtain the correspondent points on a pair of boundaries for tracking the motion is proposed. Each boundary is described as a set of cyclic convex/concave segments, and inflection points between two segments are used as break points for tracking the motion of a cell. Some of the intermediate results of representing curved boundaries and tracking the motion of a cell are also presented along with algorithms.
Bildrekonstruktion und Quantifizierung in der Emissionstomographie

Radionuclide tomographic imaging has substantially benefited from the introduction of statistical image reconstruction. Although the main concepts of these iterative algorithms were published decades ago, their widespread use in clinical routine only became available with faster computers for image processing in the last few years. This article gives an overview of data acquisition and iterative reconstruction in emission tomography, deals with the popular maximum likelihood algorithm, and describes the basics of the maximum a posteriori reconstruction. Prerequisites and corrections necessary for quantification are discussed in the second part of the article on the basis of positron emission tomography. Improvements in technical equipment are expected to stimulate future research into image reconstruction.
A numerical study on the measurement region of an open-ended coaxial probe used for complex permittivity measurement

The measurement region of an open-ended coaxial probe with circular flange, which is used for measuring the complex permittivity, has been investigated by calculations and measurements. First, the detectable distance between the probe surface and metal plate in the saline solution is clarified by the experiments. Then, the electromagnetic field near the end of the probe, which affects the measurement strongly, has been analyzed by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. By identifying the measured and calculated results, the measurement region has been determined.
A Long-Term Monitoring Method of Corrosion Damage of Prestressed Anchor Cable

Based on high-stress characteristics of prestressed anchor cables, this paper develops an axial-distributed testing method to test corrosion damage of prestressed anchor cables. The positioning accuracy and corrosion range of an axial-distributed optical fiber sensor is studied, and its mathematical model between corrosion mass loss and axial fiber strain is established. The experimental results show that the fiber strain from an axial-distributed sensor enables one to reflect the corrosion rate along a prestressed anchor. Moreover, it has a greater sensitivity when an anchored cable has a higher stress. The mathematical model between corrosion mass loss and axial fiber strain is determined to be ε=4723. 64ρ+2592.95. The corrosion location along the anchor cable is characterized by axial fiber strain. Therefore, this work provides an insight for cable corrosion.
Vehicle Instance Segmentation Polygonal Dataset for a Private Surveillance System

Vehicle identification and re-identification is an essential tool for traffic surveillance. However, with cameras at every corner of the street, there is a requirement for private surveillance. Automated surveillance can be achieved through computer vision tasks such as segmentation of the vehicle, classification of the make and model of the vehicle and license plate detection. To achieve a unique representation of every vehicle on the road with just the region of interest extracted, instance segmentation is applied. With the frontal part of the vehicle segmented for privacy, the vehicle make is identified along with the license plate. To achieve this, a dataset is annotated with a polygonal bounding box of its frontal region and license plate localization. State-of-the-art methods, maskRCNN, is utilized to identify the best performing model. Further, data augmentation using multiple techniques is evaluated for better generalization of the dataset. The results showed improved classification as well as a high mAP for the dataset when compared to previous approaches on the same dataset. A classification accuracy of 99.2% was obtained and segmentation was achieved with a high mAP of 99.67%. Data augmentation approaches were employed to balance and generalize the dataset of which the mosaic-tiled approach produced higher accuracy.
A New Weighted Algorithm for the Fusion of Multiple Classifiers

To improve the performance of classifiers, a method that directly adopts the output vectors of the classifiers to calculate the weight value was presented, which uses the “measured level” information of the classifiers directly and transforms the “measured level” information into the weights to the classifiers. The threshold for voting was also set in order to improve the reliability.
Adaptive feature extraction for QRS classification and ectopic beat detection

An adaptive system based on the Hermite functions is proposed to adaptively estimate and track the QRS complexes in the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal with few and nonredundant parameters. The system is based on the multiple-input adaptive linear combiner, where the primary input signal is the succession of the QRS complexes, and the reference inputs are the Hermite functions. The weight vector becomes an estimation of the coefficients that represent the QRS complex in the Hermite function base. To adapt these weights the LMS algorithm is used. The authors incorporated a procedure to adaptively estimate a width parameter (b) that best fits each QRS complex. Applications of this system to classify QRS in case of ECG signals affected by the phenomenon of bigeminy and to detect ectopic beats using the b parameter are presented. In both cases correct pattern classification was obtained. <<ETX>>
Ethyl Formate Fumigation for Control of the Scale Insect Asiacornococcus kaki, a Quarantine Pest on Sweet Persimmon, Diospyros kaki: Efficacy, Phytotoxicity and Safety

Simple Summary The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness the fumigant of ethyl formate (EF), an alternative to methyl bromide, in controlling the pest Asiacornococcus kaki on sweet persimmon fruit. The study assessed the hatching rate of eggs and the survival rates of nymphs and adults of A. kaki at low temperatures as well as the lethal concentration of EF required to kill 50% and 99% of its population. Large-scale tests were conducted in a 20 ft reefer container at 5 ± 1 °C for 6 h to confirm the efficacy of EF on different life stages of A. kaki. Our results indicated that EF is an effective pesticide for A. kaki without causing phytotoxic damage to persimmon fruit. However, at the egg stage, which was the most tolerant, the A. kaki population was not completely controlled in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)-packaged fruit. Overall, EF is a promising fumigant for the quarantine pre-treatment of sweet persimmon fruit before it is packed with LLDPE film, specifically to control A. kaki located beneath the calyx of the fruit. Abstract Sweet persimmons are a valuable export commodity. However, the presence of live insects such as Asiacornococcus kaki limits their access to many export markets. Methyl bromide, traditionally used for pest control, is damaging to human health and the environment. Ethyl formate (EF) is a viable alternative; however, its effectiveness against A. kaki on sweet persimmon fruit is unknown. We evaluated the effectiveness of EF fumigation in controlling A. kaki present under the calyx of persimmon fruit. The hatching rate of eggs and the survival rates of nymphs and adults of A. kaki at low temperatures, its LCt50 and LCt99 after EF exposure, and phytotoxic damage caused by EF were evaluated in laboratory-scale and commercial-scale tests. The dose–response tests showed that the EF LCt99 at 5 °C was 9.69, 42.13, and 126.13 g h m−3 for adults, nymphs, and eggs, respectively. Commercial-scale tests demonstrated EF efficacy against all A. kaki stages without causing phytotoxic effects on persimmons, though the eggs of A. kaki were not completely controlled in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)-packaged fruit. This study demonstrated that EF is a potential fumigant for quarantine pretreatment, especially before persimmon fruit is packed with LLDPE film, to control A. kaki infesting sweet persimmon fruit.
Adaptive harmonic decomposition using shift-invariant PLCA

This paper presents a new algorithm based on shift-invariant probabilistic latent component analysis that analyzes harmonic structures in an audio signal. Each note in a constant-Q transform is modeled as a weighted sum of narrowband parametric spectra, and a positive deconvolution is performed to obtain both pitch and timbre signature. The algorithm has been tested in a task of monopitch and multipitch estimation and shows very promising results.
Multi-focus Image Fusion Scheme Based on Wavelet Contrast

The vision system of human being is sensitive to local contrast. If the wavelet transform and directional contrast are put together, the effect of image fusion may be better. This paper puts forward a new multi-focus image fusion scheme based on wavelet directional contrast after researching the directional contrast. First, the input multi-focus images are decomposed by wavelet transform. Second, the high frequency neighborhood and low frequency neighborhood are ratioed on each disaggregatire layer of each image. Low frequency of this decomposition is obtained by two-dimensional discrete wavelet inverse transform of last decomposition's low frequency and high frequency. The bigger ratio one corresponding high frequency wavelet coefficient is taken to corresponding wavelet coefficient. Then two-dimensional discrete wavelet inverse transform of high frequency and low frequency from the maximum decomposition to minimum decomposition is calculated. The fusion image is acquived at last. The neighborhood relativity of pixel is taken into account, the error in selecting pixels is reduced. Experiments show that this scheme is improved than the multi-focus image scheme calculating the wavelet directional contrast of each pixel.
Automatic visual inspection of woven textiles using a two-stage defect detector

Automatic inspection of woven textile fabric is discussed. A two-stage detection process is adopted, with the second stage involving set of novel contextual decision fusion techniques. Three significant problems are addressed: (1) texture feature extraction: Fourier transform features are found to be well matched to the spatially periodic nature of the woven pattern; (2) detection of localized flaw patterns: since prior probabilities are impossible to estimate, and we cannot hope to enumerate all defect classes, a Neyman-Pearson approach is adopted, i.e., flaw detection is via measured deviation from nominal; and (3) detection of extended flaw patterns: the most common flaws are characterized by linear or other cluster shaped patterns; although these are weakly detectable by local detectors, they may be ignored when local detector sensitivity is set to achieve tolerably low false-alarm rates; a localextended contextual decision fusion technique using morphological filtering enables us to achieve very low composite false-alarm rate. The performance of the system is evaluated on samples of denim fabric containing real defects. The predicted composite false-alarm rate is of the order 1 in 1013, or equivalent to 1 per 100 km of fabric roll. Experimental results demonstrate the compatibility of this favorable false-alarm rate with the reliable detection of flaws, which have been chosen for their subtlety and detection difficulty.
Multiconfiguration VLA H92-alpha observations of Sagittarius A West at 1 arcsecond resolution

Sagittarius A (Sgr A) West has been observed in the H 92α line at 8.3 GHz using the Very Large Array with an angular resolution of ∼1″, a velocity resolution of 14 km s −1 , and an rms noise of ∼0.15 mJy beam −1 . The global kinematics and electron temperatures of the H II region have been determined. This determination of the kinematics has been done with almost an order of magnitude greater resolution and sensitivity than previous radio recombination line observations. These observations have a factor of 2 greater angular and velocity resolution than recent [Ne II] imaging spectral line observations; this kinematic determination does not support the onearmed spiral model suggested by the [Ne II] observations. Rather, three major kinematic features are identified: the western arc; the northern arm; and the extended bar
Spontaneous Sepsis in Adult Horses: From Veterinary to Human Medicine Perspectives

Sepsis is a life-threatening disease defined as an organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to an infection. Early diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis are necessary for specific and timely treatment. However, no predictive biomarkers or therapeutic targets are available yet, mainly due to the lack of a pertinent model. A better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with sepsis will allow for earlier and more appropriate management. For this purpose, experimental models of sepsis have been set up to decipher the progression and pathophysiology of human sepsis but also to identify new biomarkers or therapeutic targets. These experimental models, although imperfect, have mostly been performed on a murine model. However, due to the different pathophysiology of the species, the results obtained in these studies are difficult to transpose to humans. This underlines the importance of identifying pertinent situations to improve patient care. As humans, horses have the predisposition to develop sepsis spontaneously and may be a promising model for spontaneous sepsis. This review proposes to give first an overview of the different animal species used to model human sepsis, and, secondly, to focus on adult equine sepsis as a spontaneous model of sepsis and its potential implications for human and veterinary medicine.
A Modified Wideband Direction of Arrival Estimator Based on Spectrum Smoothin

DOA estimation for wideband sources with sensor arrays is one of the key issues in acoustic tracking. An improvement on the wideband DOA estimation is proposed. The new covariance matrix of the frequency bin is obtained by averaging the covariance matrices of its adjacent frequency bins, and then the general wideband algorithms are used to estimate the DOAs. Compared with the wideband algorithm without covariance matrix smoothing, the improvement has higher resolution and smaller root mean square error except high signal-noise-ratio. The theoretical expressions indicate that the improvement is effective. The performance of the improvement is also demonstrated and analyzed through the computer simulations.