Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two robust super resolution approaches in aeroacoustic imaging for near-field wideband extended sources

Recently deconvolution-based methods, like the DAMAS, hav e greatly improved spatial resolutions of the Beamforming in aeroacoustic imagin g. But most of existing methods are not robust to background noise. In this paper, we prop ose two robust superresolution approaches using Sparsity Constraint (SC-RDAM AS) and Sparse Regularisation (SR-RDAMAS) respectively to simultaneously estimate source powers and positions, and the variance of background noise. In proposed SC-RDAMAS , sparsity constraint on source power is obtained by considering eigenvalue distrib utions of observed covariance matrix. When sparsity constraint is hard to determine in str ong noise interference, proposed SR-RDAMAS applyingl1 regularisation with proper regularisation parameter can greatly improve resolutions and robustness of proposed SCRDAMAS. Moreover, proposed SC-RDAMAS can work well even if the source number is ove r-estimated, but our SR-RDAMAS does not require source number at all. Proposed me thods are shown to be robust to noise, wide dynamic range, super resolution and fe asibility to use for near-field wideband extended source imaging based on 2D non-uniform mi crophone array by simulated and wind tunnel data. Our methods are compared with th e state-of-art methods: Beamforming, DAMAS, Diagonal Removal DAMAS, DAMAS with spa rsity constraint, Covariance Matrix Fitting and CLEAN.
Automatic extrinsic calibration of display-camera system using an annular mirror

Our work focuses on the extrinsic calibration of a display-camera system where the camera has no direct view of the display. An annular planar mirror is used to reflect the display so that the camera can capture the reflection images. The position of the mirror can be obtained after outer circle is detected. The position parameters are determined uniquely by putting two orthogonal lines in the background and optimized by re-projecting the inner circle to the image plane. The display pixels are encoded using gray code and its imaged position in the mirror can be obtained by solving the PnP problem. Finally, the real extrinsic parameters between the camera and the display are obtained according to the mirror imaging principle. Our approach is simple and fully automatic without any manual intervention. Both simulation and real experiments validate our approach.
Multicenter randomized controlled trial of withdrawal of inhaled corticosteroids in cystic fibrosis.

RATIONALE Lung inflammation and injury is critical in cystic fibrosis. An ideal antiinflammatory agent has not been identified but inhaled corticosteroids are widely used despite lack of evidence. OBJECTIVES To test the safety of withdrawal of inhaled corticosteroids with the hypothesis this would not be associated with an earlier onset of acute chest exacerbations. METHODS Multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in 18 pediatric and adult UK centers. Eligibility criteria included age>6.0 yr, FEV1>or=40% predicted, and corticosteroid use>3 mo. During the 2-mo run-in period, all patients received fluticasone; they then took either fluticasone or placebo for 6 mo. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Fluticasone group: n=84, median age 14.6 yr, mean (SD) FEV1 76% (18); placebo group: n=87, median age 15.8 yr, mean (SD) FEV1 76% (18). There was no difference in time to first exacerbation (primary outcome) with hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.07 (0.68 to 1.70) for fluticasone versus placebo. There was no effect of age, atopy, corticosteroid dose, FEV1, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa status. There was no change in lung function or differences in antibiotic or rescue bronchodilator use. Fewer patients in the fluticasone group withdrew from the study due to lung-related adverse events (9 vs. 15%); with a relative risk (95% confidence interval) of 0.59 (0.23-1.48) fluticasone versus placebo. CONCLUSIONS In this study population (applicable to 40% of patients with cystic fibrosis in the UK), it appears safe to consider stopping inhaled corticosteroids. Potential advantages will be to reduce the drug burden on patients, reduce adverse effects, and make financial savings.
Differential susceptibility to herpes simplex viruses of hamster cell lines established after exposure to chemically inactivated herpesvirus.

Summary The replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 2 was studied in two isolated hamster cell lines. These lines developed after being treated with herpes simplex virus type 2 inactivated with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)-anthracene. One cell line that developed, HDC-22, had a hypodiploid chromosome number and was missing a D-group chromosome. Growth studies revealed that this cell line did not support the replication of herpes simplex virus type 2 but did support the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1. The other cell line, HDC-17, had a normal karyotype and proved susceptible to both herpes simplex virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 2. These hamster cell lines afford an opportunity to study specific resistance to herpes simplex virus and the differences in the replicative cycles of type 1 and type 2 herpesviruses.
Dismount tracking and identification from electro-optical imagery

With the advent of new technology in wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) and full-motion video (FMV), there is a capability to exploit the imagery in conjunction with other information sources for improving confidence in detection, tracking, and identification (DTI) of dismounts. Image exploitation, along with other radar and intelligence information can aid decision support and situation awareness. Many advantages and limitations exist in dismount tracking analysis using WAMI/FMV; however, through layered management of sensing resources, there are future capabilities to explore that would increase dismount DTI accuracy, confidence, and timeliness. A layered sensing approach enables commandlevel strategic, operational, and tactical analysis of dismounts to combine multiple sensors and databases, to validate DTI information, as well as to enhance reporting results. In this paper, we discuss WAMI/FMV, compile a list of issues and challenges of exploiting the data for WAMI, and provide examples from recently reported results. Our aim is to provide a discussion to ensure that nominated combatants are detected, the sensed information is validated across multiple perspectives, the reported confidence values achieve positive combatant versus non- combatant detection, and the related situational awareness attributes including behavior analysis, spatial-temporal relations, and cueing are provided in a timely and reliable manner to stakeholders.
Nasal nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase expression in primary ciliary dyskinesia

No study has evaluated the correlation between different expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in nasal epithelial cells and nasal NO (nNO) level in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Gene expression of endothelial (NOS3) and inducible NOS (NOS2) and their correlation with nNO level, ciliary function and morphology were studied in patients with PCD or secondary ciliary dyskinesia (SCD). NOS3 gene polymorphisms were studied in blood leukocytes. A total of 212 subjects were studied (48 with PCD, 161 with SCD and three normal subjects). nNO level correlated with mean ciliary beat frequency (p = 0.044; r = 0.174). The lower the nNO level the higher was the percentage of immotile cilia (p<0.001; r = -0.375). A significant positive correlation between NOS2 gene expression and nNO levels was demonstrated in all children (p = 0.001; r = 0.428), and this correlation was confirmed in patients with PCD (p = 0.019; r = 0.484). NOS2 gene expression was lower in PCD than in SCD (p = 0.04). The NOS3 isoform correlated with missing central microtubules (p = 0.048; r = 0.447). nNO levels were higher in PCD subjects with the NOS3 thymidine 894 mutation, and this was associated with a higher ciliary beat frequency (p = 0.045). These results demonstrate a relationship between nNO level, NOS mRNA expression and ciliary beat frequency.
Quantification of CMRO2 without hypercapnia using simultaneous near-infrared spectroscopy and fMRI measurements

Estimation of the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) is important to investigate the neurovascular coupling and physiological components in blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals quantitatively. Although there are methods that can determine CMRO2 changes using functional MRI (fMRI) or near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), current approaches require a separate hypercapnia calibration process and have the potential to incur bias in many assumed model parameters. In this paper, a novel method to estimate CMRO2 without hypercapnia is described using simultaneous measurements of NIRS and fMRI. Specifically, an optimization framework is proposed that minimizes the differences between the two forms of the relative CMRO2–CBF coupling ratio from BOLD and NIRS biophysical models, from which hypercapnia calibration and model parameters are readily estimated. Based on the new methods, we found that group average CBF, CMRO2, cerebral blood volume (CBV), and BOLD changes within activation of the primary motor cortex during a finger tapping task increased by 39.5 ± 21.4%, 18.4 ± 8.7%, 12.9 ± 6.7%, and 0.5 ± 0.2%, respectively. The group average estimated flow-metabolism coupling ratio was 2.38 ± 0.65 and the hypercapnia parameter was 7.7 ± 1.7%. These values are within the range of values reported from other literatures. Furthermore, the activation maps from CBF and CMRO2 were well localized on the primary motor cortex, which is the main target region of the finger tapping task.
Discriminatory Indirect Taxation in International Tax Competition

Preferential border regions with lower rates of indirect taxes have been used, or are being considered, by several high tax countries in the European Union to ght the loss of tax revenues to low tax neighbors. Based on fears that reduced rates in border regions will spark even ercer tax competition the European Commission has terminated such schemes on two occasions. This study investigates discriminatory indirect taxation in situations of tax competition for cross-border shoppers and nds that such fears of increased tax competition are unwarranted. As long as the border region is su¢ ciently large, tax rates will not be reduced in the border region or in the neighbouring country. Rather, tax rates will be increased in the hinterland and neighboring countries will not be negatively a¤ected. JEL classi cation: H27, H73, F15 Keywords: tax competition, cross-border shopping, discriminatory taxation Draft version, comments very welcome. The ndings, interpretations, and conclusions of this paper are entirely those of the author. They should not be attributed to the European Commission. yEuropean Commission, Free University Berlin and CESifo. Email: sebastian.kessing@ec.europa. eu.
Project Design with Limited Commitment and Teams

We study the interaction between a group of agents who exert effort to complete a project and a manager who chooses its objectives. The manager has limited commitment power so that she can commit to the objectives only when the project is sufficiently close to completion. We show that the manager has incentives to extend the project as it progresses. This result has two implications. First, the manager will choose a larger project if she has less commitment power. Second, the manager should delegate the decision rights over the project size to the agents unless she has sufficient commitment power.
Close loop control of non-holonomic WMR with augmented reality and potential field

Aim of this paper is to develop a non-holonomic differential robotic platform with PID velocity control for both wheels and 3D augmented reality based optical localization system to test standard navigation algorithms like potential field and cell decomposition. A mobile robot is modeled in simulink and the hardware is designed accordingly. The robot is localized in the arena by Unity based 3d localization system, optimal path is generated by Potential field algorithm from which individual wheel velocities are calculated. The velocity command is sent to the robot by xbee modules. Robot is continuously localized and an outer position control loop is utilized to bring back the robot into the correct path if it is deviated from the pre-generated path.
ETUDE ET CONCEPTION D'UN CAPTEUR-RFID PASSIF EN BANDE UHF : APPLICATION A L'AGROALIMENTAIRE

La technologie d’identification radiofrequence (RFID) se decline aujourd’hui dans des milliers d’applications. Parmi elles nous pouvons citer les applications de gestion logistique des palettes/cartons dans les entrepots industriels (RFID UHF) ainsi que l’identification des abonnes dans les reseaux de transports urbains (RFID HF). Depuis quelques annees, des contributions scientifiques autour des technologies d’identification radiofrequence (RFID) avec un couplage capteur sont de plus en plus visibles. L’interet grandissant pour ce type de technologie s’appuie sur la possibilite d’une utilisation en masse de capteurs bon marches pouvant etre integres sur chaque objet. On parle alors d’objet connecte ou d’internet des objets (IoT). Dans cette these, nous nous focalisons sur l’etude et le developpement d’un capteur RFID passif fonctionnant en bande UHF. Cette orientation technologique est dictee par l’application visee, l’agro-alimentaire, qui requiert des couts de fabrication les plus faibles possibles et une distance de lecture superieure au metre. Pour l’element sensible, nous utilisons un bio-polymere, plus precisement le gluten de ble dont les proprietes dielectriques en fonction de l’humidite relative ont ete etudiees precedemment. Nous nous attachons a traiter toutes les problematiques liees a la communication entre un lecteur et un capteur RFID passif, l’objectif ultime de cette these etant de recuperer une information capteur a l’aide d’un lecteur RFID conventionnel respectant les standards du domaine et les directives radio en vigueur dans les differentes regions du monde. Pour valider cette etude, nous mettons en œuvre des capteurs-RFID pour realiser un demonstrateur d’emballage « intelligent » permettant le suivi de la qualite des aliments.
Modeling of Subcontinuum Thermal Transport Across Semiconductor-Gas Interfaces

A physically rigorous computational algorithm is developed and applied to calculate sub-continuum thermal transport in structures containing semiconductor-gas interfaces. The solution is based on a finite volume discretization of the Boltzmann equation for gas molecules (in the gas phase) and phonons (in the semiconductor). A partial equilibrium is assumed between gas molecules and phonons at the interface of the two media, and the degree of this equilibrium is determined by the accommodation coefficients of gas molecules and phonons on either side of the interface. Energy balance is imposed to obtain a value of the interface temperature. The problem of heat transfer between two parallel plates is investigated. A range of transport regimes is studied, varying from ballistic phonon transport and free molecular flow to continuum heat transfer in both gas and solid. In particular, the thermal interface resistance (or temperature slip) at a gas-solid interface is extracted in the mesoscopic regime where a solution of the Boltzmann equation is necessary. This modeling approach is expected to find applications in the study of heat conduction through microparticle beds, gas flows in microchannel heat sinks and in determining gas gap conductance in thermal interface materials.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Effects of Inhaled Fine Particles on Lung Growth and Lung Disease

The Children‟s Health Study (CHS), conducted by the University of Southern California, has reported significant associations between reduced lung function growth and exposures to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), acid vapor, ambient particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), and elemental carbon. The primary objective of this study was to use an animal model to test the hypothesis that chronic PM2.5 exposure during the period of rapid lung growth and development can lead to reduced growth in pulmonary function that is related to oxidative stress and tissue injury. We studied changes in the development of the mouse lung and lung function during chronic exposure to concentrated ambient PM2.5 using a mouse model. The mice were exposed from 3 weeks to 11 weeks of age, i.e. after weaning to the point where the rate of lung growth is slowed. The study also evaluated whether observed deficits in lung function persisted for up to two weeks after exposure was terminated. Mice that were exposed to concentrated ambient fine particles (CAPs) for eight weeks had reduced pulmonary function, measured as increased respiratory resistance, that persisted for up to 2 weeks after the termination of exposure. We have preserved tissue, blood, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples for later analyses to investigate the relationship between pulmonary function deficits and alterations in lung structure, biochemical mediators of oxidative stress and inflammation, as well as alteration in gene expression that might be associated with lung development. We also examined the associations between particle chemical composition, particle physical characteristics and particle concentrations and observed changes in pulmonary function. There were two sets of exposures; the first exposures were performed at „high‟ concentration (PM2.5, 243 μg/m; number concentration, 93,000 particles/cc) and the second exposures were at „low‟ concentration, (PM2.5 56 μg/m; particle number 83,000 particles/cc). Both studies produced significant increases in resistance. Particle mass concentrations in the low study were nearly 1/5 that in the high study, however the particle number concentrations
Energy Efficient Data Tranfer in Secure Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks are a new type of networked systems, characterized by severely constrained computational and energy resources, and an ad hoc operational environment. Wireless sensor networks(WSNs) have been increasingly available for large-scale applications in which energy efficiency & security is an important performance measure. Driven by the energy & security limitation nature of WSNs lots of research works have been done in aspects such as nodes replication, data aggregation routing, security moniroting etc. In this paper we first study the flooding algorithm and then remove limitation of flooding algorithm using grid network. Then we propose a Horizontal -- Vertical method for load balancing of the grid network.
Leptin stimulates Xenopus lung development: evolution in a dish

SUMMARY The transition from uni‐ to multicellular organisms required metabolic cooperativity through cell‐cell interactions mediated by soluble growth factors. We have empirically demonstrated such an integrating mechanism by which the metabolic hormone leptin stimulates lung development, causing the thinning of the gas exchange surface and the obligate increase in lung surfactant synthesis. All of these processes have occurred both phylogenetically and developmentally during the course of vertebrate lung evolution from fish to man. Here we show the integrating effects of the environmentally sensitive, pleiotropic hormone leptin on the development of the Xenopus laevis tadpole lung. The process described in this study provides a mechanistically integrated link between the metabolic regulatory hormone leptin and its manifold downstream effects on a wide variety of physiologic structures and functions, including locomotion and respiration, the cornerstones of land vertebrate evolution. It provides physiologic selection pressure at multiple levels to progressively generate Gene Regulatory Networks both within and between organs, from cells to systems. This model provides a cipher for understanding the evolution of complex physiology.
Leaderless Consensus of Linear Multi-agent Systems: Matrix Decomposition Approach

This paper considers the leaderless consensus problem of linear multi-agent systems with static and dynamic consensus controllers. The communication topology is modeled by a directed graph which contains a spanning tree. A special type of matrix decomposition is performed on the graph Laplacian matrix which can be factored into the product of two specific matrices. Base on this property of graph Laplacian matrix, a novel analysis approach for leaderless consensus problem is introduced in which the consensus problem can be converted into a stabilization problem of a system with lower dimensions by performing a proper variable transformation. Sufficient conditions are obtained based on Lyapunov stability analyses and algebraic graph theory. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.
Unobservables, Pregnancy Resolutions, and Birth Weight Production Functions in New York City

This paper makes contributions to the estimation of health production functions and the economics of fertility control. We present the first infant health production functions that simultaneously control for self-selection in the resolution of pregnancies as live births or induced abortions and in the use of prenatal medical care services. We also incorporate the decision of a pregnant woman to give birth.
Three-dimensional photoionization modelling of the hydrogen-deficient knots in the planetary nebula Abell 30

We have constructed a photoionization model, using the three-dimensional Monte Carlo code MOCASSIN, for one of the hydrogen-deficient knots (J3) of the born-again planetary nebula Abell 30. The model consists of spherical knots, comprising a cold, dense, hydrogen-deficient core with very high metal abundances. The inner core, occupying 9.1 per cent of the total volume of the knot, is surrounded by a less dense hydrogen-deficient and metal-enriched gas envelope, with less extreme abundances. The envelope of the knot might have been formed by the mixing of the knot material with the surrounding nebular gas. This bi-chemistry, bi-density model did not produce enough heating to match the fluxes of the collisionally excited emission lines (CELs) and of the optical recombination lines (ORLs) observed in the spectrum of the knot. We therefore included heating by photoelectric emission from dust grains in the thermal equilibrium calculations, and found that dust-to-gas ratios of 0.077 and 0.107 by mass for the central core and the envelope of the knot, respectively, are sufficient to fit the spectrum. Surprisingly, photoelectric emission from grains is the dominant source of heating in the hot envelope of the knot, while heating by photoionization of helium and heavy elements dominates in the cold core. We obtain a good fit with the observations for most of the significant emission lines treated in our model. The two major discrepancies occurred for the [O II] 3727,29-A doublet and the [N II] 6548,6584-A lines, which are severely underestimated in our model. Recombination contributions could be significant and we included them for the O II transitions. However, this was not sufficient to resolve the discrepancy, due to the high collisional de-excitation rates in the dense core, where most of the recombination lines would be produced. This possibly highlights a weakness in using a discontinuous density distribution like ours, where in reality one might expect an intermediate phase to exist. The chemical abundances inferred from our modelling of the central core region and of the envelope of the knot are, at least qualitatively, in agreement with the abundances derived by the empirical analysis of Wesson, Liu & Barlow, although the discrepancies between the core and the envelope abundances that we find are less dramatic than those implied by the ORL and CEL empirical analysis. Our models also indicate, in agreement with the empirical analysis of Wesson et al., that the C/O ratio in the two regions of the knot is less than unity, contrary to theoretical predictions for born-again nebulae.