Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High Compressive Strength of Palm Oil Empty Fruit Bunches (Elaeis guineensis) Composites

Simple mixing and hot pressing methods were used to make high strength and light-weight composite from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) using PVAc as an adhesive and silica nanoparticles as a filler. The mechanical strength of the composite was examined in term of compressive strength. The simple mixing method was used to mix composition with PVAc and silica nanoparticles. Silica nanoparticles were added as filler. Hot pressing method was used to press the mixed composites at a pressing pressure of 85 MPa, pressing temperature of 150 °C, and pressing time of 20 minutes. The optimum composition in term of compressive strength for the strongest composite had a mass ratio of OPEFB/PVAc of 13 : 2 and obtained a compressive strength of 82,88 MPa. Higher compressive strength of 100,39 MPa was obtained by adding the silica nanoparticles at a mass ratio of OPEFB/PVAc/silica nanoparticles of 13 : 2 : 0,75. At pressing pressure of 100 MPa, pressing temperature of 150 °C, and pressing time of 20 minutes, we found compressive strength of 115,35 MPa. Data analysis of XRD showed that the used silica nanoparticles were in amorphous phase or had broad pattern. The compressive strength data showed that the composites were stronger than the composites made by Masturi and Kumagizuri, and also stronger than the ordinary wood-based composites. Thus, the composites are feasible to be used to replace wood-based composites, especially in furnishings.
Using structures to synchronize cameras of robots swarms

The synchronization of image sequences acquired by robots swarms is an essential task for localization operations. We address this problem by considering the swarms as dynamic camera networks in which, each robot is reduced to a mobile camera. The synchronicity is a strong restriction that in some cases of wide applications can be difficult to obtain. This paper studies the methodology of using a non synchronized camera network. We consider the cases where the frequency of acquisition of each element of the network can be different, including desynchronization due to delays of transmission inside the network. The following work introduces a new approach to retrieve the temporal synchronization from the multiple unsynchronized frames of a scene. The mathematical characterization of the 3D structure of scenes is used as a tool to estimate synchronization value, combined with a statistical stratum. This paper presents experimental results on real data for each step of synchronization retrieval.
First Steps in Synthetic Guarded Domain Theory: Step-Indexing in the Topos of Trees

We present the topos S of trees as a model of guarded recursion. We study the internal dependently-typed higher-order logic of S and show that S models two modal operators, on predicates and types, which serve as guards in recursive definitions of terms, predicates, and types. In particular, we show how to solve recursive type equations involving dependent types. We propose that the internal logic of S provides the right setting for the synthetic construction of abstract versions of step-indexed models of programming languages and program logics. As an example, we show how to construct a model of a programming language with higher-order store and recursive types entirely inside the internal logic of S.
Treebank Annotation Schemes and Parser Evaluation for German

Recent studies focussed on the question whether less-conguration al languages like German are harder to parse than English, or whether the lower parsing scores are an artefact of treebank encoding schemes and data structures, as claimed by K¤ ubler et al. (2006). This claim is based on the assumption that PARSEVAL metrics fully reect parse quality across treebank encoding schemes. In this paper we present new experiments to test this claim. We use the PARSEVAL metric, the Leaf-Ancestor metric as well as a dependency-based evaluation, and present novel approaches measuring the effect of controlled error insertion on treebank trees and parser output. We also provide extensive past-parsing crosstreebank conversion. The results of the experiments show that, contrary to K¤ ubler et al. (2006), the question whether or not German is harder to parse than English remains undecided.
Revisiting neuroimaging of abusive head trauma in infants and young children.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to use a mechanism-based approach to review the neuroimaging findings of abusive head trauma to infants. Advanced neuroimaging provides insights into not only the underlying mechanisms of craniocerebral injuries but also the long-term prognosis of brain injury for children on whom these injuries have been inflicted. CONCLUSION Knowledge of the traumatic mechanisms, the key neuroimaging findings, and the implications of functional imaging findings should help radiologists characterize the underlying causes of the injuries inflicted, thereby facilitating effective treatment.
Kenaf fiber/poly(ε‐caprolactone) biocomposite with enhanced crystallization rate and mechanical properties

Plant-derived kenaf fiber (KF)-reinforced poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) biocomposites were successfully fabricated by the melt mixing technique. The crystallization behavior, morphology, and mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of PCL/KF composites with various KF weight contents were investigated. The crystallization rate, tensile and storage moduli significantly improved as compared to the virgin polymer. The half times of PCL/KF composite (20 wt % fiber content) in isothermal crystallization at 40°C and 45°C reduced to 31.6% and 42.0% of the neat PCL, respectively. Moreover, the tensile and storage modulus of the composite are improved by 146% and 223%, respectively, by the reinforcement with 30% KF. The morphology evaluated by SEM indicates good dispersion and adhesion between KF and PCL. Overall, these findings reveal that KF can be a potential reinforcement for the biodegradable polymer composites owing to its good ability to improve the mechanical properties as well as crystallization rate. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
ExquiMo: An Exquisite Corpse Tool for Co-creative 3D Shape Modeling

We introduce a shape modeling tool, ExquiMo, which is guided by the idea of improving the creativity of 3D shape designs through collaboration. Inspired by the game of Exquisite Corpse, our tool allocates distinct parts of a shape to multiple players who model the assigned parts in a sequence. Our approach is motivated by the understanding that effective surprise leads to creative outcomes. Hence, to maintain the surprise factor of the output, we conceal the previously modeled parts from the most recent player. Part designs from individual players are fused together to produce an often unexpected, hence creative, end result. However, to maintain the functional plausibility of the final shape, our tool must encourage a certain level of coherence between the parts. We achieve this by first defining an end goal which conveys the targeted shape category, and then revealing a small portion of the connecting regions of any adjacent parts to a player during his/her turn. We demonstrate the effectiveness of collaborative modeling for both man-made and natural shapes. Our results show that, when compared to models designed by single users, multi-user collaborative modeling via ExquiMo tends to lead to more creative designs.
Quality of Service in WSN-A Review

The capability of sensor nodes to observe and react to physical phenomenon has made wireless sensor networks a new technological vision. They are small devices having distributed sensing capabilities with wireless interfaces and communicate using Radio Communication (RF) techniques. As these networks are used for applications that emphasize on timeliness or reliability or both QoS becomes an important parameter. But due to resource constrained and power hungry nature of these devices very few work is done in this area and there is currently no standardization, on a framework and/or general guidelines in the networking community on how QoS can be achieved in WSNs. This paper presents the Quality of service parameters, issues and about the work done in this area.
Reflection properties of a layer or half-space of particulate photonic crystal

Analytical theory of plane electromagnetic wave reflection from a layer or half-space of a particulate photonic crystal is introduced. The photonic (artificial) crystal is formed by small complex-shaped dielectric or metallic inclusions arranged in the nodes of a regular three-dimensional lattice with parallelepipedal elementary cell of general kind. The dipole model and the local-field approach are used for description of electromagnetic interaction between inclusions. Frequency-dependent polarizabilities are used for description of inclusions polarization. The interaction between adjacent layers is considered using the Floquet representation including evanescent modes. Using an analytical theory of dispersion for the crystals under consideration it becomes possible to make predictions for dipole moments distribution deep inside the layer. Additional corrections for distribution in the surface layers and amplitudes of predicted modes have been found numerically from a linear system of equation. This method needs much less computational time comparing with the same method without prediction of distribution and can be applied for calculation of reflection coefficient for much more thicker layers or for a half space. Also, a simple analytical single mode propagation theory for reflection from layer and half-space of particulate crystal is presented. It does not take into account the surface effects, but it is numerically shown for microwave crystal of loaded wires that this theory gives an excellent correspondence with exact one in the case of single mode propagation.
Female labour supply and fertility in Canada.

This paper develops a 1-period household production model in which lifetime female labor supply and completed fertility are simultaneously determined. The parameters of the model are estimated on 1971 Canadian census data, using techniques suitable for the discrete nature of the dependent variables (number of children and labor force participation) or their concentration at zero (hours and weeks worked). The major empirical findings are that more educated women, and women living in cities, have fewer children and supply more labor to the market than other women. Nonlabor income and husband's wage have no significant effect on fertility, but husband's wage decreases female labor supply. Catholic women have significantly more children but supply the same amount of labor as nonCatholic women, other things being equal. Other results are of interest in a Canadian context: holding religion and urban/rural location constant, no English/French difference in fertility or labor supply was found. Only Newfoundland exhibits a fertility pattern that differs from other provinces. And women in Ontario and Prairie provinces supply more labor to the market than women elsewhere.
Improved Detection of Microbubble Signals Using Power M-Mode Doppler

Background— Power motion-mode transcranial Doppler (TCD) (PMD) is a new, multigated technique that may simplify and enhance detection of embolus. We developed criteria for emboli detection using PMD. Then, we performed a blinded comparison of transcranial PMD with single-gate spectral TCD in TCD bubble study patients. Methods— Patients with right-to-left shunt as detected with standard TCD were selected for this study. The international emboli criteria for spectral TCD were used. We defined novel PMD criteria for detecting emboli signature on PMD as follows: (1) signature at least 3 dB higher than the highest spontaneous PMD display of background blood flow; (2) embolic signature reflects motion in one direction at a minimum spatial extent of 7.5 mm and temporal extent of 30 ms; (3) embolus must traverse a prespecified depth. Each study was blindly assessed for microbubble signals (MBS) count on either modality. Results— Thirty-six patients were included in the study. Mean age was 44.4 (SD 14.4), 50% were male, and median time from stroke onset to TCD bubble test was 12 days. Median MBS count in middle cerebral arteries (MCA) was 4 on both modalities. Spectral TCD MBS counts were highly correlated (&rgr;=0.97) with PMD MBS counts in MCA and similarly in anterior cerebral arteries (ACA) (&rgr;=0.79). When PMD microbubble counts in the ACA and MCA were summed, a clear 2-fold difference emerged between 2 modalities (P <0.001). Conclusion— When compared with spectral TCD, PMD detects more MBS with higher counts by identifying ACA as well as MCA emboli. Pitfalls of overcounting emboli with PMD can be avoided by following such criteria.
Micro-Doppler Parameter Estimation via Parametric Sparse Representation and Pruned Orthogonal Matching Pursuit

The rotation, vibration, or coning motion of a target may produce periodic Doppler modulation, which is called the micro-Doppler phenomenon and is widely used for target classification and recognition. In this paper, the signal of interest is decomposed into a family of parametric basis-signals that are generated by discretizing the micro-Doppler parameter domain and synthesizing the micro-Doppler components with over-complete time-frequency characteristics. In this manner, micro-Doppler parameter estimation is converted into the problem of sparse signal recovery with a parametric dictionary. This problem can be considered as a specific case of dictionary learning, i.e., we need to solve for both the sparse solution and the parameter inside the dictionary matrix. To solve this problem, a novel pruned orthogonal matching pursuit (POMP) algorithm is proposed, in which the pruning operation is embedded into the iterative process of the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) algorithm. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated by simulations.
Problem solving skills predict quality of life and psychological morbidity in ALS caregivers

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) often is associated with a particularly intensive caregiving experience, and the well-being of caregivers impacts that of patients. Thus, identification of factors leading to distress in caregivers may provide avenues for intervention that will help both the caregiver and the patient. We prospectively examined caregivers’ social problem solving skills, the quality of the patient-caregiver relationship, caregivers’ spirituality and religiousness, and the ways in which these impact caregivers’ quality of life (QoL) and psychological morbidity in 75 caregivers of ALS patients. Data were analyzed through correlational and hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Social problem solving and spirituality were the best predictors of caregivers’ QoL, accounting for 15.6% and 7.8% of the variance in QoL, respectively (F (2, 69) = 11.83, p<. 001). Social problem solving also predicted and accounted for 25.4% of the variance in psychological morbidity (F (1, 71) = 25.571, p<. 001). Level of care provided did not predict either QoL or psychological morbidity in caregivers. In conclusion, the problem-solving skills of ALS caregivers are an important determinant of caregiver well-being. Developing interventions to teach ALS caregivers effective methods of problem solving would probably be beneficial to this population.
Mastery learning of temporary hemodialysis catheter insertion by nephrology fellows using simulation technology and deliberate practice.

BACKGROUND Temporary hemodialysis catheter (THDC) insertion is a required skill for nephrology fellows. Traditional fellowship training may provide inadequate preparation to perform this procedure. Our aim was to use a central venous catheter (CVC) simulator to assess nephrology fellows' THDC insertion skills and evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on skill development to mastery standards. STUDY DESIGN Prospective observational cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 18 nephrology fellows from 3 academic centers in Chicago from May to August 2008. Six graduating fellows (traditionally-trained) underwent assessment of internal jugular THDC insertion skill using a CVC simulator. Subsequently, 12 first-year fellows (simulator-trained) underwent baseline testing and received a 2-hour education session featuring deliberate practice with the CVC simulator. Simulator-trained fellows were retested after the intervention and expected to meet or exceed a minimum passing score. PREDICTOR Completion of CVC simulation education session. OUTCOMES THDC insertion skill performance. MEASUREMENTS Skills examination was scored on a 27-item checklist. Minimum passing score was set by an expert panel. RESULTS Performance of traditionally-trained graduating fellows in THDC insertion was poor (mean, 53.1%), and only 17% met the minimum passing score. Performance of simulator-trained first-year fellows improved from a mean of 29.5% to a mean of 88.6% after simulator training (P = 0.002). Simulator-trained fellows showed significantly higher THDC insertion performance than traditionally-trained graduating fellows (P = 0.001). The education program was rated highly. LIMITATIONS Although it represents fellows from 3 programs, sample size was small. CONCLUSIONS A curriculum featuring deliberate practice dramatically increased the skill of nephrology fellows to mastery standards in THDC insertion. This program illustrates a feasible and reliable mechanism to achieve and document procedural competency.
DES J0454−4448 : discovery of the first luminous z ≥ 6 quasar from the Dark Energy Survey

We present the first results of a survey for high redshift, z > 6, quasars using izY multi-colour photometric observations from the Dark Energy Survey (DES). Here we report the discovery and spectroscopic confirmation of the zAB;YAB = 20.2, 20.2 (M1450 = 26.5) quasar DES J0454 4448 with an emission line redshift of z = 6.10 0.03 and a HI near zone size of 4.6 1.7 Mpc. The quasar was selected as an i-band drop out with i z = 2.46 and zAB 50-100 new quasars with z> 6 including 3-10 with z> 7 dramatically increasing the numbers of quasars currently known that are suitable for detailed studies including determination of the neutral HI fraction of the intergalactic medium (IGM) during the epoch of Hydrogen reionization.
Information-Constrained Discrete Choice ∗

It is not unusual in real-life that one has to choose among finitely many alternatives when the merits of each alternative are not perfectly known. A natural rule is then to choose the alternative which “looks” best. We show that a version of the monotone likelihood ratio property is sufficient, and also essentially necessary, for this decision rule to be optimal. We also analyze how the precision of the decisionmaker’s information affects his or her choice and welfare, and we show that it is not always advantageous to have more choice alternatives. We extend the analysis to situations in which the decision-maker at some cost or effort can choose the precision in his or her information, as well as the number of alternatives to consider. We show that small differences in information cost can result in dramatic differences in choice behaviors. Individuals for whom information gathering is costly will optimally make ill-informed choices. We also show that welfare is not always monotonic in true utilities, both under exogenous and endogenous uncertainty.
Scalable bicriteria algorithms for the threshold activation problem in online social networks

We consider the Threshold Activation Problem (TAP): given social network G and positive threshold T, find a minimum-size seed set A that can trigger expected activation of at least T. We introduce the first scalable, parallelizable algorithm with performance guarantee for TAP suitable for datasets with millions of nodes and edges; we exploit the bicriteria nature of solutions to TAP to allow the user to control the running time versus accuracy of our algorithm through a parameter α ∊ (0, 1): given η > 0, with probability 1 − η our algorithm returns a solution A with expected activation greater than T — 2αΤ, and the size of the solution A is within factor 1−h 4αΤ + log(T) of the optimal size. The algorithm runs in time O (α<sup>−2</sup> log (n/η) (n + m)|A|), where n, m, refer to the number of nodes, edges in the network. The performance guarantee holds for the general triggering model of internal influence and also incorporates external influence, provided a certain condition is met on the cost-effectivity of seed selection.
An Experimental Study of 3-dimensional Cardiac Electrical Imaging in a Swine Model

We have conducted an experimental study to validate a previously developed 3-dimensional cardiac electrical imaging (3DCEI) method in a control large animal (swine) during intramural and endocardial pacing. Single-site pacing was conducted from both intramural and endocardial locations. During pacing, body surface potential mapping and intracavitary mapping (by Ensite 3000 endocardial mapping system) were preformed simultaneously. The 3DCEI analysis was performed on the measured BSPMs. The averaged localization error of IS was 7.4 mm. The extracted endocardial ASs from the estimated 3D ASs by 3DCEI were consistent with the endocardial ASs reconstructed from the intracavitary mapping by the Ensite system. The present experimental results demonstrate that the noninvasive 3DCEI approach can localize the IS with good accuracy and estimate AS under an in vivo setting.
Controlling devices using facial expression identification and recognition for assisting physically disabled

In the present scenario there is a need to do something for the society mainly for differently abled people. In this paper we implement the control of devices through tongue movements to aid the differently abled people. A pat of four tongue movements namely left, right, top, and down is used to control pre-defined devices. The pre-dominant camcorder acquires the video of the subject. A small luminous black sticker is fixed on subject's tongue. The Viola-Jones detection algorithm is used to detect the subject's tongue from the real time video. In order to have a better quality of the image the histogram equalization and filtering is done. Afterwards the analysis of Co-ordinate System (CSA) is used to detect the movement of the black marker sticker placed on the tongue. The pre-defined tongue movement is exclusively represented with the help of 8-bit binary number. The serial port communicates to the microcontroller and the devices are controlled accordingly.
Connecting low-power and lossy networks to the internet

Many applications, ranging from wireless healthcare to energy metering on the smart grid, have emerged from a decade of research in wireless sensor networks. However, the lack of an IP-based network architecture precluded sensor networks from interoperating with the Internet, limiting their real-world impact. Given this disconnect, the IETF chartered the 6LoWPAN and RoLL working groups to specify standards at various layers of the protocol stack with the goal of connecting low-power and lossy networks to the Internet. We present the standards proposed by these working groups, and describe how the research community actively participates in this process by influencing their design and providing open source implementations.