Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance analysis of bridgeless DCM SEPIC rectifier for universal input voltage applications with fast dynamic response

This paper analyzes the operation of a bridgeless SEPIC rectifier for universal input voltage applications. Compared to conventional full bridge topology, the proposed SEPIC rectifier provides lower conduction losses and heating due to absence of input bridge rectifier and presence of single switching device in each half cycle. The topology is designed in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) to achieve almost unity power factor and low THD of input current. The DCM operation provides zero current turn on for power switches and simple control circuitry. The small signal modelling is done for universal line voltage range. Further, the comparative study for open loop and close loop is analyzed.
Spotting Facial Micro-Expressions “ In the Wild ”

Micro-expressions are quick facial motions, appearing in high stake and stressful situations typically when a subject tries to hide his or her emotions. Two attributes are present fast duration and low intensity. A simple detection method is proposed, which determines instants of micro-expressions in a video. The method is based on analyzing image intensity differences over a registered face sequence. The specific pattern is detected by an SVM classifier. The results are evaluated on standard microexpression datasets SMIC-E and CASMEII. The proposed method outperformed competing methods in detection accuracy. Further, we collected a new real micro-expression dataset of mostly poker game videos downloaded from YouTube. We achieved average cross-validation AUC 0.88 for the SMIC, and 0.81 on the new challenging “in the Wild” database.
Fault Modeling and Parallel Testing for 1T1M Memory Array

Memristor memory is a novel electrical device, which has attracted more and more attentions as a new nonvolatile memory due to its fast write/read speed, low operation voltage, long data retention time, and excellent scalability. The gateless 1 memristor (1M) crossbar memristor structure has the highest density but suffers from the sneak-path problem. One transistor and one memristor (1T1M) structure can eliminate the effect of sneak-path currents. However, leakage currents exist in the 1T1M memory array through the off transistors, which will affect the write and read operations. The wire resistance which is inevitable in the memristor circuits is another fatal factor that affects the write and read operations. In this paper, we analyze the effect of the leakage currents and wire resistance during the write and read operations based on 1T1M memory array under different array sizes. Memristor can be employed as either logic gate or memory element. Stateful logic operations can be performed through memristors and resistors with the help of appropriate circuit. In this paper, a parallel testing method was proposed based on memristive stateful logic which can improve the test efficiency compared to the traditional March algorithm. The proposed parallel testing method is 1.242 times faster than the March algorithm when the array size is 64 * 64, and when the array size increased to 1024 * 1024, the parallel testing is 1.249 times faster than the March algorithm while the test time can be reduced by 19.51% and 19.92%, respectively.
Flexible Coverage for Backhaul-Limited Ultradense Heterogeneous Networks: Throughput Analysis and $\eta$-Optimal Biasing

In fifth-generation ultradense heterogeneous network, backhaul plays an important role to provide connection to core networks for small base stations (SBSs). With the densification, nonideal backhaul will be deployed extensively, which constrains the throughput improvement due to the limited backhaul capacity. This paper models the SBSs and users as independent Poisson point processes and derives a semi-closed-form expression that analyzes the ergodic throughput of the network where SBSs have limited backhaul capacity. Based on analysis, to accomplish flexible coverage with limited backhaul, an optimization problem is formulated which accounts for cell association and aims at maximizing the number of offloading users while simultaneously minimizing the biasing factors and guaranteeing the received signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio of users when offloading. The optimization problem is shown to be a mixed-integer nonlinear problem, which can obtain a suboptimal solution by convex relaxation and further a distributed solution by problem decomposition via primal–dual method. Considering the complexity of ultradense network and practical implementation, a backhaul-aware $\eta$ -optimal biasing adjustment model is proposed for flexible coverage. This model aims to optimize the coverage for throughput improvement while matching the backhaul capacity. The simulation results show that average user and SBS throughput can be improved significantly by $2 \times$ when backhaul is constrained. Due to the transmit power and interference constraints on access link, there is no need to allocate too much bandwidth to backhaul, which provides guidance for self-backhaul resource allocation.
Learning-Based Performance Specialization of Configurable Systems

A large scale configurable system typically offers thousands of options or parameters to let the engineers customize it for specific needs. Among the resulting many billions possible configurations, relating option and parameter values to desired performance is then a daunting task relying on a deep know how of the internals of the configurable system. In this paper, we propose a staged configuration process to narrow the space of possible configurations to a good approximation of those satisfying the wanted high level customer requirements. Based on an oracle (e.g. a runtime test) that tells us whether a given configuration meets the requirements (e.g. speed or memory footprint), we leverage machine learning to retrofit the acquired knowledge into a variability model of the system that can be used to automatically specialize the configurable system. We validate our approach on a set of well-known configurable software systems. Our results show that, for many different kinds of objectives and performance qualities, the approach has interesting accuracy, precision and recall after a learning stage based on a relative small number of random samples.
Compound Extended Geometric Distribution and Some of Its Properties

The compound extended geometric distribution (CEG distribution) is introduced. Probabilities of the distribution are evaluated. Certain statistical, distributional and reliability properties are discussed. The distribution is characterized using S- function. An AR(1) process corresponding to CEG distribution is derived. Simulation and estimation of parameters are done using the method of moments and BHHJ estimation.
NS1 codon usage adaptation to humans in pandemic Zika virus

BACKGROUND Zika virus (ZIKV) was recognised as a zoonotic pathogen in Africa and southeastern Asia. Human infections were infrequently reported until 2007, when the first known epidemic occurred in Micronesia. After 2013, the Asian lineage of ZIKV spread along the Pacific Islands and Americas, causing severe outbreaks with millions of human infections. The recent human infections of ZIKV were also associated with severe complications, such as an increase in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome and the emergence of congenital Zika syndrome. OBJECTIVES To better understand the recent and rapid expansion of ZIKV, as well as the presentation of novel complications, we compared the genetic differences between the African sylvatic lineage and the Asian epidemic lineage that caused the recent massive outbreaks. FINDINGS The epidemic lineages have significant codon adaptation in NS1 gene to translate these proteins in human and Aedes aegypti mosquito cells compared to the African zoonotic lineage. Accordingly, a Brazilian epidemic isolate (ZBR) produced more NS1 protein than the MR766 African lineage (ZAF) did, as indicated by proteomic data from infections of neuron progenitor cells-derived neurospheres. Although ZBR replicated more efficiently in these cells, the differences observed in the stoichiometry of ZIKV proteins were not exclusively explained by the differences in viral replication between the lineages. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that natural, silent translational selection in the second half of 20th century could have improved the fitness of Asian ZIKV lineage in human and mosquito cells.
Quasi Prospective Comparative Study on Effect of Yoga among Prediabetics on Progression of Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Introduction: Prediabetic patients have higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, which further increases the rate of mortality. Reason for the rate of increase may be lack of observation, follow-up programs, and self-awareness about the conditions of disease. Lifestyle interventions such as yoga can prove to be a beneficial nonpharmacologic intervention in preventing progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. This study highlights importance of short-term intervention, i.e., yoga in prediabetic patients and use it as a tool for primary prevention of diabetes. Methods: This was an interventional study among adults aged 30–50 years in RUHS college of Medical Sciences and Associated Rukmani Devi Beni Prasad Jaipuria Hospital in Jaipur city. The design of study was quasi prospective comparative study. A total of 102 prediabetic patients of age group 30–50 years were recruited from Jaipuria Hospital. These were divided into two groups: study group (Group A, n = 51) were engaged in yoga session and control group (B, n = 51) not performed any yoga session. Results: Yoga intervention resulted in a significant decline in blood glucose (P < 0.001), glycated hemoglobin (P < 0.01), lipid profile cholesterol (P < 0.01), triglyceride (P < 0.01), and low-density lipoprotein (P < 0.01), but high-density lipoprotein (P < 0.02) and very low-density lipoprotein increase (P < 0.03) but not statistically significant relative to the control group. Conclusion: Short-term yoga intervention is helpful in the control of glycemic parameters like blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin and lipid profile in prediabetic patients. This preliminary study indicates that a yoga program would be a possible risk reduction option for adults at high risk for type 2 diabetes. In addition, yoga holds promise as an approach to reducing cardiometabolic risk factors and increasing exercise self-efficacy for prediabetics performing yoga.
Game Development-Based Learning Experience: Gender Differences in Game Design

Learning theories emphasize the importance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators in curricula, and games are a promising way to provide both while constructing the game and presenting or sharing it in public or with a community. New technologies and the emerging mobile gaming sector further the case that learning should be promoted everywhere and anytime. What seems to be a promising opportunity for all pupils to learn coding in an entertaining way raises the question of whether such game based concepts also help to fix the gender gap of women in IT related fields. Gender differences are already present in secondary schools. These are the years where first career choices but also low levels of participation in technical subjects occur. To address this gender bias, a goal of the European project No One Left Behind (NOLB) was to integrate Pocket Code, an app developed by Catrobat, a free open source non-profit project at the University of Technology in Graz/Austria, into different school subjects, thus making coding more accessible and attractive to female pupils. During the period of this project (2015-2017), teachers were supported to guide their pupils in the learning processes by constructing ideas and realizing them through game design. For this paper an analysis of submitted programs according to their game design has been performed. In detail, the evaluation considered formal game elements, gaming structures, and used graphics, as well as Pocket Code specific aspects. The programs analysis showed commonly used design patterns by genders and suggests preferred game design characteristics of female teenagers. This analysis helps to build a more creative and inclusive Game Development-Based Learning (GDBL) environment that provides room for self-expression and inspires by building on intrinsic and extrinsic motivators by constructing personal experiences.
Cascade ciphering technique for confidential, authenticated and integrity preserved transmission of images over a network

Rapid growth in the internet usage has contributed to large amount of data or images that are getting transmitted via network. With the purpose of faster delivery of data, especially images such as the one in medical, military, scientific related fields are also transmitted via network in a very large amount. In these cases, protection of confidential images becomes very crucial. The confidential images should not be easily able to be seen by the third party other than the one whom the images are intended to be sent. It becomes very important to encrypt these confidential images before transmission over the network, to prevent unauthorized access. So, a new cascaded encryption system is proposed in this paper for secure image transmission. The proposed cascaded encryption system is based on A5/1 and Pell's algorithms. Here, A5/1 is used for data confidentiality, the Pell's algorithm is used for authentication and the integrity is ensured through correlation. The proposed method shows better results in terms of standard deviation, encryption and decryption without information loss and faster encryption as well as decryption time as benchmark set against cascade encryption with RSA with AES algorithm, RSA with A5/1 algorithms.
A randomized evaluation of betrixaban, an oral factor Xa inhibitor, for prevention of thromboembolic events after total knee replacement (EXPERT)

Summary Betrixaban is an oral direct inhibitor of factor Xa (FXa) being developed for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Its antithrombotic effects had not been previously tested in patients. This exploratory clinical trial in the US and Canada randomized 215 patients undergoing elective total knee replacement (TKR) in a 2:2:1 ratio to receive post-operative betrixaban 15 mg or 40 mg p.o. bid or enoxaparin 30 mg s.c. q12h, respectively, for 10–14 days. The betrixaban dosage was blinded, but enoxaparin was not. Primary efficacy outcome was the incidence of VTE, consisting of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) on mandatory unilateral (operated leg) venography, symptomatic proximal DVT, or pulmonary embolism (PE) through Day 10–14. Safety outcomes included major and clinically significant non-major bleeds through 48 h after treatment. All efficacy and bleeding outcomes were adjudicated by a blinded independent central adjudication committee. Of 214 treated patients, 175 (82%) were evaluable for primary efficacy. VTE incidence was 14/70 (20%; 95% CI: 11, 31) for betrixaban 15 mg, 10/65 (15%; 95% CI: 8, 27) for betrixaban 40 mg, and 4/40 (10%; 95% CI: 3, 24) for enoxaparin. No bleeds were reported for betrixaban 15 mg, 2 (2.4%) clinically significant non-major bleeds with betrixaban 40 mg, and one (2.3%) major and two (4.6%) clinically significant non-major bleeds with enoxaparin. A dose- and concentration-dependent effect of betrixaban on inhibition of thrombin generation and anti-Xa levels was observed. Betrixaban demonstrated antithrombotic activity and appeared well tolerated in knee replacement patients at the doses studied.
Firm-Provided Training During the Great Recession

Even though the 2008/09 economic crisis had only minor employment effects on the German labor market, it might have affected firms’ further training and apprenticeship training behavior. From a theoretical point of view, the impact of the business cycle on firms’ training behaviour is ambiguous. There are reasons for an increase of training during a downturn (e.g., declining opportunity costs of training, fewer exit options for trained workers) as well as arguments for a decrease of training (e.g., uncertain future benefits of training). The existing empirical evidence on the relationship between training and economic downturns is relatively scarce. In particular, we are not aware of any empirical study investigating the effects of the most recent crisis on firms’ training activities in Germany. Our paper aims to fill this gap by using data from the IAB Establishment Panel, a representative German panel data set with annual information about almost 16,000 establishments. In particular, we analyzed the provision and the intensity of further training and apprenticeship training in firms which were affected by the crisis and in those which were not. Our empirical investigation revealed that the establishments, irrespective of whether or not they were hit by the economic crisis, decreased their further training and apprenticeship training efforts in 2009 compared to 2008. However, establishments directly affected by the great recession tended to reduce their training activities more often than those which were not affected. Furthermore, we found much stronger variations in the development of firms’ further training activities than in the development of their apprenticeship training.
A Part-Based Gaussian Reweighted Approach for Occluded Vehicle Detection

SUMMARY Vehicle detection is challenging in natural tra ﬃ c scenes because there exist a lot of occlusion. Because of occlusion, detector’s training strategy may lead to mismatch between features and labels. As a result, some predicted bounding boxes may shift to surrounding vehicles and lead to lower conﬁdences. These bounding boxes will lead to lower AP value. In this letter, we propose a new approach to address this problem. We calculate the center of visible part of current vehicle based on road information. Then a variable-radius Gaussian weight based method is applied to reweight each anchor box in loss function based on the center of visible part in training time of SSD. The reweighted method has ability to predict higher conﬁdences and more accurate bounding boxes. Besides, the model also has high speed and can be trained end-to-end. Experimental results show that our proposed method outperforms some competitive methods in terms of speed and accuracy.
Effects of low-carbohydrate diets v. low-fat diets on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Abstract The effects of low-carbohydrate (LC) diets on body weight and cardiovascular risk are unclear, and previous studies have found varying results. Our aim was to conduct a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT), assessing the effects of LC diets v. low-fat (LF) diets on weight loss and risk factors of CVD. Studies were identified by searching MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Trials. Studies had to fulfil the following criteria: a RCT; the LC diet was defined in accordance with the Atkins diet, or carbohydrate intake of <20 % of total energy intake; twenty subjects or more per group; the subjects were previously healthy; and the dietary intervention had a duration of 6 months or longer. Results from individual studies were pooled as weighted mean difference (WMD) using a random effect model. In all, eleven RCT with 1369 participants met all the set eligibility criteria. Compared with participants on LF diets, participants on LC diets experienced a greater reduction in body weight (WMD –2·17 kg; 95 % CI –3·36, –0·99) and TAG (WMD –0·26 mmol/l; 95 % CI –0·37, –0·15), but a greater increase in HDL-cholesterol (WMD 0·14 mmol/l; 95 % CI 0·09, 0·19) and LDL-cholesterol (WMD 0·16 mmol/l; 95 % CI 0·003, 0·33). This meta-analysis demonstrates opposite change in two important cardiovascular risk factors on LC diets – greater weight loss and increased LDL-cholesterol. Our findings suggest that the beneficial changes of LC diets must be weighed against the possible detrimental effects of increased LDL-cholesterol.
Effect of rearing substrate on growth performance, waste reduction efficiency and chemical composition of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae.

BACKGROUND Wastes can be used as rearing substrate by black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, the latter being exploitable as a protein source in animal feed. This research aimed to assess the influence of four rearing substrates (Trial 1 (organic wastes): a mixture of vegetable and fruit (VEGFRU) vs. a mixture of fruits only (FRU); Trial 2 (agro-industrial by-products): brewery (BRE) vs. winery (WIN) by-products) on BSF larvae development, waste reduction efficiency and nutritional composition. RESULTS If respectively compared to FRU and WIN, VEGFRU and BRE larvae needed less time to reach the prepupal stage (22.0, 22.2, 20.2 and 8.0 days of trial, respectively) and had higher protein content (229.7, 257.3, 312.9 and 395.7 g kg-1 dry matter). The waste reduction index ranged from 2.4 (WIN) to 5.3 g d-1 (BRE). BRE larvae showed the lowest saturated and the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid proportions (612.4 and 260.1 g kg-1 total fatty acids, respectively). CONCLUSION Vegetable and fruit wastes and winery by-products can be used as rearing substrates for BSF larval mass production. Brewery by-products led to very promising larval performance and nutritional composition. However, given BRE limited availability, low BRE dietary inclusion levels could be used with the purpose of increasing larval performance. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
No Man’s Craniosynostosis: The Arcana of Sutural Knowledge

Abstract No man’s craniosynostosis is discussed under the following headings: historical notes, sutural development, suture closure, craniosynostotic patterns, anatomic and genetic perspectives, types of craniosynostosis, and 2 unusual types of craniosynostosis with large head circumferences.
Multiple Functions of the P75 Neurotrophin Receptor in the Nervous System

Article history: Received: 15 June 2011 Accepted: 25 Aug 2011 Available online: 29 Dec 2011 Background: The P75 neurotrophin receptor (p75) is a transmembrane protein that binds the nerve growth factor (NGF) and implements multiple functions in the nervous system. It is expressed widely during the development of the nervous system although its expression is dramatically decreased at adulthood. Though the P75 neurotrophin receptor has been identified more than 35 years ago, our knowledge about its structure and function has barely increased. Materials and Methods: In this review various methods are used to search databases and reliable scientific resources have been reviewed to give an up-to-date panoramic picture of the protein expression, structure, function, and its interaction with other known molecules. Results: P75 not only in neurons but also in various types of glial cells is expressed. In addition to NGF, this receptor can also bind the tropomyosin kinase receptors. Some pathological conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and nerve damages are followed by the considerable increased expression of p75. Conclusion: In this study, the role of p75 in the nervous system of human beings has been investigated and it has been illustrated that how spinal cord repair can improve by blocking of p75. It seems that in addition to p75, someother homologues are also involved in this pathway. Further studies are required to elucidate more details about the role of p75 in the development and function of the nervous system. Copyright © 2012 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.