Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deep Hashing: A Joint Approach for Image Signature Learning

Similarity-based image hashing represents crucial technique for visual data storage reduction and expedited image search. Conventional hashing schemes typically feed hand-crafted features into hash functions, which separates the procedures of feature extraction and hash function learning. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm that concurrently performs feature engineering and non-linear supervised hashing function learning. Our technical contributions in this paper are two-folds: 1) deep network optimization is often achieved by gradient propagation, which critically requires a smooth objective function. The discrete nature of hash codes makes them not amenable for gradient-based optimization. To address this issue, we propose an exponentiated hashing loss function and its bilinear smooth approximation. Effective gradient calculation and propagation are thereby enabled; 2) pre-training is an important trick in supervised deep learning. The impact of pre-training on the hash code quality has never been discussed in current deep hashing literature. We propose a pre-training scheme inspired by recent advance in deep network based image classification, and experimentally demonstrate its effectiveness. Comprehensive quantitative evaluations are conducted. On all adopted benchmarks, our proposed algorithm generates new performance records by significant improvement margins.
Barriers and facilitators to initial and continued attendance at community‐based lifestyle programmes among families of overweight and obese children: a systematic review

The success of childhood weight management programmes relies on family engagement. While attendance offers many benefits including the support to make positive lifestyle changes, the majority of families referred to treatment decline. Moreover, for those who do attend, benefits are often compromised by high programme attrition. This systematic review investigated factors influencing attendance at community‐based lifestyle programmes among families of overweight or obese children. A narrative synthesis approach was used to allow for the inclusion of quantitative, qualitative and mixed‐method study designs. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Results suggest that parents provided the impetus for programme initiation, and this was driven largely by a concern for their child's psychological health and wellbeing. More often than not, children went along without any real reason or interest in attending. Over the course of the programme, however, children's positive social experiences such as having fun and making friends fostered the desire to continue. The stigma surrounding excess weight and the denial of the issue amongst some parents presented barriers to enrolment and warrant further study. This study provides practical recommendations to guide future policy makers, programme delivery teams and researchers in developing strategies to boost recruitment and minimise attrition.
Recurrent Syncope, a Clue in Amyloid Cardiomyopathy

Infiltrative cardiomyopathies include a variety of disorders that lead to myocardial thickening resulting in a constellation of clinical manifestations and eventually heart failure that could be the first clue to reach the diagnosis. Among the more described infiltrative diseases of the heart is amyloid cardiomyopathy. The disease usually presents with subtle, nonspecific symptoms. Herein, we illustrate a case of recurrent syncope as the initial presenting symptom for systemic amyloid with polyneuropathy and cardiomyopathy as a cause of syncope. The article illustrates the role of advanced cardiac imaging in the diagnosis of the disease with a focused literature review. We also highlight the role of early, shared decision-making between patient, family, and medical team in the management of cardiac amyloidosis.
The biologics of ulcerative colitis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors dramatically changed the management of moderate-to-severe phenotypes of ulcerative colitis. The recent incoming of vedolizumab, which targets gut-specific leukocyte trafficking, provides a new biologic option for these patients. Areas covered: This review focuses on the rationale of use, efficacy, and safety profile of all biologics currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, including tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors (Infliximab and biosimilars, adalimumab, and golimumab), and the more recent vedolizumab. Expert opinion: Although biologics have been available in clinical practice for ulcerative colitis for about 15 years, there are several aspects that have not been fully understood yet: we know that they work, but we still don’t know which subsets of patients benefit more, and how to optimize their use. All these unresolved problems are at least partly due to the discrepancy observed between phase II/III clinical trials of all biologics currently used in ulcerative colitis and in clinical practice.
An epidemiological study of drowning survivors among school children

Context: Drowning is a major, but often neglected, public health problem. Drowning is the second leading cause of death from unintentional injuries, after road traffic injuries. According to the World Health Organization, 0.7% of all deaths worldwide (>500,000 deaths) each year are due to unintentional drowning. In India, very little is known about the epidemiology of drowning. There is almost no awareness or protocols to prevent drowning. Objectives: The objective is to study the prevalence, risk factors, and types of drowning among school children in the Malabar region. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based study by semistructured interview method was performed among 8433 school children of 5–15 years. Statistical Methods: The prevalence of drowning was calculated. Odds ratio was calculated and represented under 95% confidence interval. Risk factors were analyzed as frequency with percentage. Results and Discussion: The total study population was 8433 students, comprising 4795 boys (56.86%) and 3638 (43.13%) girls. A total of 342 (4.06%) students had a history of drowning. These survivors were further interviewed. The prevalence of drowning was much higher compared to figures reported in literature. Conclusions: Contrary to the general perception, drowning is a common occurrence among children. Swimming skills have no role in the prevention of drowning. Public awareness regarding supervision of children and restricting unsupervised access of children to water bodies need to be emphasized.
Delay-Optimal Back-Pressure Routing Algorithm for Multihop Wireless Networks

Although the back-pressure (BP) algorithm has been proven to be a throughput-optimal policy for traffic scheduling and routing in wireless networks, the optimal control of delays in the BP algorithm remains an open problem, especially for conventional multihop networks. To enhance the delay performance, we proposed an improved BP algorithm called sojourn-time-based BP (STBP) by introducing a novel delay metric called the sojourn time backlog (STB). The STB considers the queue length and accumulated packet delays comprehensively. It provides more pressure to push forward flows suffering from greater delays. Based on this new metric, the calculation of the routing weight for each packet is determined for maximizing the difference of the STB in the routing process. The proposed routing algorithm is robust and distributed, and does not require any prior knowledge of network connections and load conditions. We analyze the network stability with delay considerations and prove the throughput optimality of the STBP in multihop networks. Simulation results reveal that the enhanced algorithm effectively improves the end-to-end delay while ensuring throughput optimality.
Optical interconnects on printed circuit boards

The ever-increasing need for higher bandwidth and density is one of the motivations for extensive research on planar optoelectronic structures on printed circuit board (PCB) substrates. Among these applications, optical interconnects have received considerable attention in the last decade. Several optical interconnect techniques, such as free space, guided wave, board level and fiber array interconnects, have been introduced for system level applications. In all planar optoelectronic systems, optical waveguides are crucial elements that facilitate signal routing. Low propagation loss, high reliability and manufacturability are among the requirements of polymer optical waveguides and polymer passive devices on PCB substrates for practical applications. Besides fabrication requirements, reliable characterization tools are needed to accurately and nondestructively measure important guiding properties, such as waveguide propagation loss. In three-dimensional (3D) fully embedded board-level optical interconnects, another key challenge is to realize efficient optical coupling between in-plane waveguides and out-of-plane laser/detector devices. Driven by these motivations, the research presented in this thesis focuses on some fundamental studies of optical interconnects for PCB substrates, e.g., developing low-loss optical polymer waveguides with integrated efficient out-of-plane couplers for optical interconnects on printed circuit board substrates, as well as the demonstration of a novel free-space optical interconnect system by using a volume holographic thin film. Firstly, the theoretical and experimental investigations on the limitations of using mercury i-line ultraviolet (UV) proximity photolithography have been carried out, and the metallization techniques for fine copper line formation are explored. Then, a new type of low-loss polymer waveguides (i.e., capped waveguide) is demonstrated by using contact photolithography with considerable performance improvement over the conventional waveguides. To characterize the propagation properties of planar optical waveguides, a reliable, nondestructive, and real-time technique is presented based on accurately imaging the scattered light from the waveguide using a sensitive charge coupled device (CCD) camera that has a built-in integration functionality. To provide surface normal light coupling between waveguides and optoelectronic devices for optical interconnects, a simple method is presented here to integrate 45° total internal reflection micro-mirrors with polymer optical waveguides by an improved tilted beam photolithography (with the aid of de-ionized water) on PCBs. A new technique is developed for a thin layer of metal coating on the micro-mirrors to achieve higher reflection and coupling efficiency (i.e., above 90%). The combination of the capped waveguide technique and the improved tilted UV exposure technique along with a hard reusable metal mask for metal deposition eliminates the usage of the traditional lift-off process, greatly simplifies the process, and…
Structural stability and decomposition of Mg(BH4)2 isomorphs—an ab initio free energy study

We present the first comprehensive comparison between free energies, based on a phonon dispersion calculation within density functional theory, of theoretically predicted structures and the experimentally proposed α (P61) and β (Fddd) phases of the promising hydrogen storage material Mg(BH4)2. The recently proposed low-density ground state is found to be thermodynamically unstable, with soft acoustic phonon modes at the Brillouin zone boundary. We show that such acoustic instabilities can be detected by a macroscopic distortion of the unit cell. Following the atomic displacements of the unstable modes, we have obtained a new F 222 structure, which has a lower energy than all previously experimentally and theoretically proposed phases of Mg(BH4)2 and is free of imaginary eigenmodes. A new meta-stable high-density I41/amd structure is also derived from the phase. Temperatures for the decomposition are found to be in the range of 400–470 K and largely independent of the structural complexity, as long as the primary cation coordination polyhedra are properly represented. This opens a possibility of using simple model structures for screening and prediction of finite temperature stability and decomposition temperatures of novel borohydride systems.
Synthesis and Dielectric Properties of [(K0.5Na0.5)0.935Li0.065]NbO3 Added with Mn for Piezoelectric Ceramic

[(K0.5Na0.5 )0.935Li0. 065]NbO3–Mn ceramics (Mn = 0, 1.50 and 3 mol %) (KNNL–Mn) were synthesized and measured dielectric properties. Which the K2CO3, Na2CO3, Li2CO3, Nb2O5 and MnO2 (0, 1.5, 3 mol%) were mixed by ball milling method and calcined powders at 1,073 K for 4 h and the sintered at 1,343 K for 2 h in air. The crystal structure was analyzed by XRD technique, the crystallite size was identiﬁed by Scherrer’s equation and calculated the theoretical density. It was found that, the XRD patterns of the KNNL–Mn ceramics added with Mn contents was indicated the tetragonal structure and. the crystallite size of Mn = 0, 1.50 and 3 mol% about 32 nm, 34 nm and 57 nm, respectively. The physical properties of the KNNL–Mn ceramics was found that the maximum theoretical density of 90.79 % for Mn = 1.50 mol%. The dielectric constant was found to be maximum of 909.77 and dielectric loss of 0.48 for Mn = 3 mol%.
Loss of eIF4E Phosphorylation Engenders Depression-like Behaviors via Selective mRNA Translation

The MAPK/ERK (mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway is a cardinal regulator of synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory in the hippocampus. One of major endpoints of this signaling cascade is the 5′ mRNA cap binding protein eIF4E (eukaryotic Initiation Factor 4E), which is phosphorylated on Ser 209 by MNK (MAPK-interacting protein kinases) and controls mRNA translation. The precise role of phospho-eIF4E in the brain is yet to be determined. Herein, we demonstrate that ablation of eIF4E phosphorylation in male mice (4Eki mice) does not impair long-term spatial or contextual fear memory, or the late phase of LTP. Using unbiased translational profiling in mouse brain, we show that phospho-eIF4E differentially regulates the translation of a subset of mRNAs linked to inflammation, the extracellular matrix, pituitary hormones, and the serotonin pathway. Consequently, 4Eki male mice display exaggerated inflammatory responses and reduced levels of serotonin, concomitant with depression and anxiety-like behaviors. Remarkably, eIF4E phosphorylation is required for the chronic antidepressant action of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine. Finally, we propose a novel phospho-eIF4E-dependent translational control mechanism in the brain, via the GAIT complex (gamma IFN activated inhibitor of translation). In summary, our work proposes a novel translational control mechanism involved in the regulation of inflammation and depression, which could be exploited to design novel therapeutics. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We demonstrate that downstream of the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway, eukaryotic Initiation Factor 4E (eIF4E) Ser209 phosphorylation is not required for classical forms of hippocampal LTP and memory. We reveal a novel role for eIF4E phosphorylation in inflammatory responses and depression-like behaviors. eIF4E phosphorylation is required for the chronic action of antidepressants, such as fluoxetine in mice. These phenotypes are accompanied by selective translation of extracellular matrix, pituitary hormones, and serotonin pathway genes, in eIF4E phospho-mutant mice. We also describe a previously unidentified translational control mechanism in the brain, whereby eIF4E phosphorylation is required for inhibiting the translation of gamma IFN activated inhibitor of translation element-containing mRNAs. These findings can be used to design novel therapeutics for depression.
Polyester/Vinylester Blended Hybrid Nanocomposites Reinforced with Carbon Fibre on Characterization

This paper presents a polymer blended hybrid nanocomposites prepared by mixing of polyester and vinylester filled with nanoclay and carbon fibre. Hybrid nanocomposites was filled with different clay weight ratios such as 0, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6wt. % using rule of hybrid mixtures. Two different systems using hand layup technique such as blend plus clay as the first system and blend plus carbon fibre plus nanoclay is the second system. Flexural and compression properties and morphology properties were studied on effect of miscibility and clay loading. Clay dispersion was uniform and also fibre blend interactions were also significantly improved for the later system. Clay wt. % was varied with respect to the modified blend. It was observed that flexural strength was increased linearly from 0wt. % to 4 wt. % and then decreases for the former system whereas for the later system linearly increases from the 0wt. % to 5wt. % and then decreases. Flexural modulus was optimised at 5wt. % for system one and system two and the reason were attributed that addition of clay increases the modulus but excess clay produces high viscosity that makes difficult to flow the modified mixture. Compression strength and modulus were increased from 0wt. % to 5wt. % for duo systems and then decreases and the reasons were attributed that due to poor flowability of the modified mixture as a result of the increased viscosity may causes the decrease in performance. Fractured surfaces were analysed through the morphology studies to see that fiber/blend, polymer/polymer, blend/clay interactions and agglomerations, pull outs, voids as these are things which reduces the stress concentration limits.
Locating and Computing All the Simple Roots and Extrema of a Function

This paper describes and analyzes two algorithms for locating and computing with certainty all the simple roots of a twice continuously differentiable function $f\colon (a,b) \subset $ ${\R } \to $ ${\R }$ and all the extrema of a three times continuously differentiable function in $(a,b)$. The first algorithm locates and computes all the simple roots or all the extrema, while the second one is more efficient in the case where both simple roots and extrema are required. This paper also gives analytical estimation of the expected complexity of the algorithms based on the distribution of the roots in $(a,b)$. Here only the case of uniform distribution is examined, which is also the approach to be followed when no statistical data are available for the function at hand. The algorithms have been implemented and tested. Performance information for a well-known Bessel function is reported.
More Reasonable Animal Model for Study the Effect of Pneumoperitoneum on Abdominal Tumor Cells

Background: Many animal experimental studies showed that abdominal tumor cells will be widely spread during laparoscopic treatment and grow into metastases. These results are different from clinical observations. There is a hypothesis that too much tumor cells was injected in the animals lead to the results of theses bias. We aim to learn the difference of abdominal cavity volume between human body and the nude mice and to determine reasonable amount of tumor cells in the animal experiments. Methods: The insufflated CO2 volume which represents the capacity of the abdominal cavity was recorded during laparoscopic process in 212 patients and 20 nude mice respectively, the relative volume of nude mice and human body was calculated. Based on data from the literature and this study , the amount of tumor cells in the animal experiments was determined. According to these data, we set up a new animal model and a traditional one respectively, and compared the rate of successful modeling and tumor formation between two animal models. Results: The intraperitoneal volumes of humans and nude mice were 3.01±0.36 L and 0.011±0.001 L respectively.The number of tumor cells that be uesd in animal should be approximately 0.26×105 in terms of known data in human beings. Compared with the traditional animal model which formed a large number of intraperitoneal tumor metastasis, the new animal model was shows more moderately, and the rate of successful modeling was similar. Conclusion: In animal experiments, to simulate the clinical situation, about 0.26×105 tumor cells should be inject in peritoneal cavity of the nude mice.
On the Vulnerability of Fingerprint Verification Systems to Fake Fingerprints Attacks

A new method to generate gummy fingers is presented. A medium-size fake fingerprint database is described and two different fingerprint verification systems are evaluated on it. Three different scenarios are considered in the experiments, namely: enrollment and test with real fingerprints, enrollment and test with fake fingerprints, and enrollment with real fingerprints and test with fake fingerprints. Results for optical and thermal sweeping sensors are given. Both systems are shown to be vulnerable to direct attacks
Fitness and its association with fatigue in persons with multiple sclerosis

This study compared physical fitness components between fatigued and non‐fatigued persons with MS and examined those components as correlates of fatigue. Sixty‐two ambulatory persons with MS completed the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) and underwent assessments of cardiorespiratory capacity, lower extremity muscle strength (i.e., peak torque and asymmetry), body composition, and static balance over two different sessions 7 days apart. Participants were allocated into fatigue groups based on MFIS scores (non‐fatigued group (i.e., MFIS ≤38), n = 26; and fatigued group (MFIS >38), n = 36). The fatigued group had significantly (P < 0.05) lower cardiorespiratory capacity (VO2peak) and muscular strength (i.e., knee flexion peak torque) than the non‐fatigued group. VO2peak and knee extension peak torque were the two physical fitness components significantly correlated with fatigue scores in the fatigued group (P < 0.05), and follow‐up stepwise linear regression revealed that VO2peak was a significant predictor of fatigue scores (R2 = 0.13). Discriminant function analysis further identified VO2peak as a significant (P < 0.05) correlate of fatigue status. This model explained 21% of variance in group status (i.e., fatigued vs non‐fatigued) and correctly classified approximately 76% of cases into fatigue status groups. The improvement of cardiorespiratory capacity should be considered in rehabilitation programs for persons with MS, especially those presenting with elevated fatigue.
A new approach to monitoring thermal fatigue cracks in die casting moulds

Abstract Die casting moulds are exposed to high cyclic temperatures, mechanical loads and severe chemical conditions. Thermal and mechanical loads cause high local stresses and consequently surface cracks. This paper introduces a new approach to establishing thermal fatigue cracks in die casting moulds by measuring the resulting defect-fins on aluminium alloy castings in the actual die casting process. The investigation showed that cracks occurred sooner and were bigger if the mould material had a lower hardness. The maximum depth of the defect-fin observed on the casting due to thermal fatigue crack on the mould with the lowest hardness (42 HRc) at 10000 cycles was 0.37 mm, the maximum width of the defect-fin was 0.76 mm and maximum length was 9.6 mm. The observed cracks were bigger closer to the entrance of melt flow, especially at the places with stress concentrators, due to higher melt temperature and higher melt flow.