Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
swmmr - an R package to interface SWMM

ABSTRACT The stormwater management model SWMM of the US EPA is widely used to analyse, design or optimise urban drainage systems. To perform advanced analysis and visualisations of model data this technical note introduces the R package swmmr. It contains functions to read and write SWMM files, initiate simulations from the R console and to convert SWMM model files to and from GIS data. Additionally, model data can be transformed to produce high quality visualisations. In accordance with SWMM’s open source policy the package can be obtained through github.com or the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN).
Estimation of prevalence of metabolic syndrome among 1st year medical students of a medical college in North Karnataka, India

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a growing concern as it predisposes to cardiovascular comorbidities and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Medical students lead fairly sedentary lifestyle. Early detection of metabolic syndrome and follow-up would help in preventing complications. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in healthy medical students of JN Medical College and to compare the prevalence among male and female students. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted from January 2018 to July 2018 involving 120 students, of which 67 (55.83%) were female and 53 male (44.17%). The study was conducted using the criteria for metabolic syndrome defined by international diabetes federation. Data for height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein were collected. Data were analyzed using SSPS version 20.0. Comparison of physiological parameters was done using independent t-test, and prevalence was estimated using Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome was observed in 10.83% of sample population comprising 11.94% female and 9.43% male population. The prevalence among females was found to be more than males but not statistically significant (P = 0.66). The prevalence of individual parameters for metabolic syndrome were abdominal obesity (59.17%), raised TG (2.50%), reduced HDL (38.33%), raised blood pressure (BP) (systolic BP [SBP] – 20.83% and diastolic BP – 28.33%), and raised blood glucose (5.83%). In terms of gender analysis, 46.27% females and 28.30% of male had lower HDL values (P = 0.04). SBP was higher in 37.74% male when compared to 7.46% female (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The study concludes that the overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was found to be 10.83%. The prevalence among female (11.94%) was more than male (9.43%) population but not found to be statistically significant. Early detection of metabolic syndrome would help bring about attitude and lifestyle changes to prevent the progression of disease and its complication.
The impact of the virtual lab on the hands-on lab learning outcomes, a two years empirical study

Virtual labs provides handy and cheap way for supporting laboratory education. Some use virtual labs as replacement of hands-on labs, but this has been reported to be unsatisfactory for students and in some cases it left a negative impact. However, virtual labs can be an important supplement of hands-on labs. In this paper, we report on an empirical two years study where a virtual lab was used in a pre lab session for supporting the students learning. The approach proved to be effective in enhancing the students learning outcomes during the hands-on session.
Space-time iterative multiuser receiver for a coded DS-CDMA system in a flat fading channel

We consider a space-time iterative multiuser (STIM) receiver for a flat fading channel and examine its application in a DS-CDMA mobile communication system with forward error correction (FEC) coding. This multiuser receiver structure exploits its spatial and temporal capabilities to overcome interference. Numerical results shows that a significant increase in capacity over flat fading channels is achieved by combining efficient space-time coding (STC), multiuser detection (MUD), iterative signal processing techniques and the reuse of orthogonal spreading codes.
Sodium Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibition and Renal Function

Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are approved therapies for renal decline in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Yet there is limited evidence on SGLT2i impact outside of T2D, which this thesis addresses. We hypothesized that 1) the SGLT2i empagliflozin would mediate intrarenal function in type 1 diabetes (T1D), 2) the SGLT2i canagliflozin would be tolerated in renal transplant populations and 3) the SGLT2i dapagliflozin would be protective in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a subtype of non-diabetic renal disease. In the first study, we found intrarenal mediation upon SGLT2i therapy in T1D. In the second study, SGLT2i were tolerated in kidney transplant recipients. In the third study, SGLT2i imparted insignificant renoprotection in FSGS. Thus, despite the potential of SGLT2i as a renoprotective therapy outside of T2D, its efficacy may vary across disease subtypes, due to renal SGLT2 regulation. Larger clinical trials are needed to further characterize the renal impact of
ADAPTIVE LONG TERM TRACKING AND AUTONOMOUS FOLLOWING USING STEREO-CAMERA OF AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH COLLISION AVOIDANCE

xii Glossary . xiii Acknowledgements . xiv Chapter
Formal Methods Education and Programming Effectiveness

Most people know that software is full of errors, that the consequences range from inconvenience to loss of life, and that at a minimum, errors in software lead to lost productivity. The software industry has had some success in improving this situation, but has a long way to go. There are many ways to address the problem: improved tools, disciplined processes, more effective design and analysis, and software product inspections are a few examples. This project, dubbed the Beseme Project, addresses the problem from the ground floor: better education. Rationale Some of the best known computing scientists, people like John McCarthy, Edsger Dijkstra, Antony Hoare, and John Backus [MCCA RT HY 62, DIJ KS T RA 68, HO A RE 69, BAC K US 78], have demonstrated almost from the beginning, from the early sixties at least and probably before that, the importance of formal, mathematical reasoning in the construction of software. Observation of the use of such methods in practical projects confirms their experience [SE LB Y 87, CO B B 90, GI B B S94]. Yet, it is a rare software project that makes much use of the methods these prominent thinkers have advocated. Formal, mathematical reasoning is painful to apply, even for those who know how, and that accounts in part for a lack of common use, but most students in computing education programs are not required to practice mathematical reasoning in their software projects. Methods not exposed in education can hardly become standard practice. Educational materials supporting formal methods in software development [GRI ES 81, BRO DA 94] have seen some success, but have fallen short of broad acceptance. Computing education rarely integrates the study of mathematical concepts such as logic and set theory with the study of software development, and there is not much objective evidence of the effects of doing so. Despite the endorsement of leading researchers, evidence that integrating mathematical reasoning with programming in computing education leads to improved programming skills is lacking. The Beseme Project seeks such evidence.
Multiprocessor Clustering for Embedded System Implementation

In this paper, we address two key trends in the synthesis of implementatio ns for embedded multiprocessors — (1) the increasing importance of managing interprocessor communi- cation (IPC) in an efficient manner, and (2) the acceptance of significantly longer compilation time by embedded system designers. The former aspect is especially evident in the increasing interest among embedded system architects in innovative communication architectures, such as those involving optical interconnection technologies, and hybrid electro-optical structures (8, 19). The latter aspect — increased compile-time tolerance — results because embedded multiprocessor sys- tems are typically designed as final implementations for dedicated functions. While multiprocessor mapping strategies for general-purpose systems are usually designed with low to moderate com- plexity as a constraint, embedded system design tools are allowed to employ more thorough and time-consuming optimization techniques (13).
Leveraging a Standard Documentation for Enhancing the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Software Testing

Software testing is a critical activity in software development lifecycle which is highly effective on the customer satisfaction. The main idea of this paper is that applying a sound test documentation is a very important and seminal factor for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of test execution. This idea is examined by using the "IEEE standard for software test documentation" in a practical software testing project. The final section of the paper has been dedicated to present the testing results of sequential versions of STB software and comparison of them.
Decentralized sequential decision making with asynchronous communication

Decentralized sequential decision making with asynchronous communication Georgios Fellouris We consider three statistical problems – hypothesis testing, change detection and parameter estimation– when the relevant information is acquired sequentially by remote sensors; all sensors transmit quantized versions of their observations to a central processor, which is called fusion center and is responsible for making the final decision. Under this decentralized setup, the challenge is to choose a quantization rule at the sensors and a fusion center policy that will rely only on the transmitted quantized messages. We suggest that the sensors transmit messages at stopping times of their observed filtrations, inducing in that way asynchronous communication between sensors and fusion center. Based on such communication schemes, we propose fusion center policies that mimic the corresponding optimal centralized policies. We prove that the resulting decentralized schemes are asymptotically optimal under different statistical models for the observations. These asymptotic optimality properties require moderate, or even rare, communication between sensors and fusion center, which is a very desirable characteristic in applications.
Polycomb contraction differentially regulates terminal human hematopoietic differentiation programs

Background Lifelong production of the many types of mature blood cells from less differentiated progenitors is a hierarchically ordered process that spans multiple cell divisions. The nature and timing of the molecular events required to integrate the environmental signals, transcription factor activity, epigenetic modifications, and changes in gene expression involved are thus complex and still poorly understood. To address this gap, we generated comprehensive reference epigenomes of 8 phenotypically defined subsets of normal human cord blood. Results We describe a striking contraction of H3K27me3 density in differentiated myelo-erythroid cells that resembles a punctate pattern previously ascribed to pluripotent embryonic stem cells. Phenotypically distinct progenitor cell types display a nearly identical repressive H3K27me3 signature characterized by large organized chromatin K27-modification domains that are retained by mature lymphoid cells but lost in terminally differentiated monocytes and erythroblasts. We demonstrate that inhibition of polycomb group members predicted to control large organized chromatin K27-modification domains influences lymphoid and myeloid fate decisions of primary neonatal hematopoietic progenitors in vitro. We further show that a majority of active enhancers appear in early progenitors, a subset of which are DNA hypermethylated and become hypomethylated and induced during terminal differentiation. Conclusion Primitive human hematopoietic cells display a unique repressive H3K27me3 signature that is retained by mature lymphoid cells but is lost in monocytes and erythroblasts. Intervention data implicate that control of this chromatin state change is a requisite part of the process whereby normal human hematopoietic progenitor cells make lymphoid and myeloid fate decisions.
Glutaminase C Regulates Microglial Activation and Pro-inflammatory Exosome Release: Relevance to the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Microglial activation is a key pathogenic process at the onset of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Identifying regulators of microglial activation bears great potential in elucidating causes and mechanisms of AD and determining candidates for early intervention. Previous studies demonstrate abnormal elevation of glutaminase C (GAC) in HIV-infected or immune-activated microglia. However, whether GAC elevation causes microglial activation remains unknown. In this study, we found heightened expression levels of GAC in early AD mouse brain tissues compared with those in control littermates. Investigations on an in vitro neuroinflammation model revealed that GAC is increased in primary mouse microglia following pro-inflammatory stimulation. To model GAC elevation we overexpressed GAC by plasmid transfection and observed that GAC-overexpression shift the microglial phenotype to a pro-inflammatory state. Treatment with BPTES, a glutaminase inhibitor, reversed LPS-induced microglial activation and inflammation. Furthermore, we discovered that GAC overexpression in mouse microglia increased exosome release and changed exosome content, which includes specific packaging of pro-inflammatory miRNAs that activate microglia. Together, our results demonstrate a causal effect of GAC elevation on microglial activation and exosome release, both of which promote the establishment of a pro-inflammatory microenvironment. Therefore, GAC may have important relevance to the pathogenesis of AD.
PHASE-BASED NEURON AS A BIOLOGICALLY PLAUSIBLE NEURON MODEL

Complex-valued neural networks ( CVNNs) are extensions of the classical neural networks, which have complex-valued weights, accept complex inputs and have more computational power than the classical ones. We present the structure and function of the phase-based neurons (PBNs), a simple type of CVNNs that uses as weights and biases complex numbers with magnitude 1, the phase being the only tunable parameter. We provide an adaptation method for PBNs and show that PBN based CVNNs have more computational power than classical artificial neural networks (ANNs), being able to implement some non-linearly-separable mappings, such as the XOR logical function. We show that the PBS has many features found in a class of biologically plausible neural networks called the phase based spiking neuron.
BiCMOS circuits for analog signal processing applications

The authors focus on BiCMOS circuits that provide improved performance for current-mode analog signal processing systems. Two BiCMOS current-mode circuits are described. A continuous-time integrator for filtering applications is presented and a high-gain current-mode operational amplifier for wideband signal conditioning is introduced. Each of these basic building blocks has many potential applications in high-performance analog signal processing systems. Both circuits achieve high frequency operation with low power consumption. <<ETX>>
Evaluation of a simple off-the-shelf bi-layered vascular scaffold based on poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone)/silk fibroin in vitro and in vivo

Purpose: In the field of small-caliber vascular scaffold research, excellent vascular remodeling is the key to ensuring anticoagulant function. We prepared an off-the-shelf bi-layered vascular scaffold with a dense inner layer and a loose outer layer and evaluated its remodeling capabilities by in vivo transplantation. Materials and Methods: Based on poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL), silk fibroin(SF), and heparin (Hep), PLCL/SF/Hep bi-layered scaffolds and PLCL/Hep bi-layered scaffolds were prepared by electrospinning. The inner layer was a PLCL/SF/Hep or PLCL/Hep nanofiber membrane, and the outer layer was PLCL/SF nano yarn. The in vitro tests included a hydrophilicity test, mechanical properties test, and blood and cell compatibility evaluation. The in vivo evaluation was conducted via single rabbit carotid artery replacement and subsequent examinations, including ultrasound imaging, immunoglobulin assays, and tissue section staining. Results: Compared to the PLCL/Hep nanofiber membrane, the hydrophilicity of the PLCL/SF/Hep nanofiber membrane was significantly improved. The mechanical strength met application requirements. Both the blood and cell compatibility were optimal. Most importantly, the PLCL/SF/Hep scaffolds maintained lumen patency for 3 months after carotid artery transplantation in live rabbits. At the same time, CD31 and α-SMA immunofluorescence staining confirmed bionic endothelial and smooth muscle layers remodeling. Conclusion: Using this hybrid strategy, PLCL and SF were combined to manufacture bi-layered small-caliber vascular scaffolds; these PLCL/SF/Hep scaffolds showed satisfactory vascular remodeling.
VALIDATION OF CLUSTERING METHODS FOR POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY DATA

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) data, in general, is difficult to segment due to low signal to noise ratio. However, in recent years, it has been demonstrated that clustering can be used as an important preprocessing step prior to parametric estimation from dynamic PET data. Classical clustering methods such as hierarchical clustering and k-means have been used to improve the accuracy of voxel level quantification in PET images. To obtain meaningful cluster groupings, it is necessary to perform clustering using an appropriate weighting technique, for each slice, based on the different time instants at which the data is sampled. Traditional hierarchical clustering methods require one to maintain a connectivity matrix showing the (dis)similarities between voxels. This requirement places severe computer memory constraints due to the high dimension of PET data. Prior work done by our group has shown that an application of a two-stage clustering process that combines a preclustering scheme along with classical hierarchical analysis can be used as a fast clustering alternative for dynamic PET data. In spite of the significant advances made in the application of various clustering strategies to dynamic PET data, very little work has been done related to validation of cluster results and methods in this domain. In this study, we compute and analyze several known intra-cluster measures, inter-cluster measures and indices that are a combination of these measures. Quantification and evaluation of the clustering results with the help of these measures is important in getting an estimate of the optimal number of clusters within the data. This information is crucial since most of the commonly used clustering methods are unsupervised and it is difficult to know where to cut the hierarchical tree or how many partitions are desired. Cluster validation is also applied to compare different clustering methods with respect to efficiency and accuracy, in which accuracy is measured with respect to whether or not a clustering method that is less computationally expensive still maintains the characteristics of an expensive clustering method. The results of this study show that it makes only little difference in the results of clustering integral data (scalar values) as compared to the entire time course data (TACs), when measured with respect to most inter, intra and inter-intra cluster measures, except that the relevant measures are generally higher for the multidimensional clustering meaning, not surprisingly, that the
Synchronous Reluctance Motor vs. Induction Motor at Low-Power Industrial Applications: Design and Comparison

Although three-phase induction motors are the most common motor type in industry, a growing interest has arisen in emerging electric motor technologies like synchronous reluctance motors and permanent magnet motors. Synchronous reluctance motors are a step forward compared to permanent magnet motors when the cost of the system is considered. The main focus of this study is low-power industrial applications, which generally use three-phase induction motors. In this study, the synchronous reluctance motor family is compared at three different power levels: 2.2 kW, 4 kW, and 5.5 kW. The aim of this study is to design and compare synchronous reluctance motors, which can be alternative to the reference induction motors. Finite element analysis is performed for the reference induction motors initially. Their stators are kept the same and the rotors are redesigned to satisfy output power requirements of the induction motors. Detailed design, analysis, and optimization processes are applied to the synchronous reluctance motors considering efficiency, power density, and manufacturing. The results are evaluated, and the optimized designs are chosen for each power level. They are prototyped and tested to measure their performance.
Flexible screen-printed coils for wireless power transfer using low-frequency magnetic fields

We report the fabrication and testing of a multilayer flexible screen-printed coil that can be used to generate low-frequency (<1 kHz) magnetic fields for applications such as electrodynamic wireless power transmission (EWPT). Compared to traditional coil-forming methods, screen printing enables rapid fabrication of thin, light weight, conformable, and flexible structures. The flexibility is demonstrated by repeated bending of a stack of up to three layers for a curvature (inverse bending radius) of 53.2 . We also demonstrate wireless power transmission of 1 mW of power at a distance of 4 cm between the flexible receiver and transmitter. The effect of the flexibility is observed through a 32% power increase when the receiver is bent concavely and a 20% output power decrease when the stack is bent convexly. It is also seen that the insertion of a 0.2 mm-thick soft-magnetic material sheet increased the magnetic field by 41% from its original value. Mechanical cycling was also performed for the stack. After 10 000 bending cycles, a 16.4% increase in the coil resistance was measured for a 0.33 Hz frequency and 78% increase for a 1 Hz cycling frequency, respectively. Screen printed 3D flexible transmitter coils can enable the incorporation of EWPT for wireless charging in applications such as healthcare and consumer-based electronics.
Loading lime by‐product into derivative cellulose carrier for food enrichment

Abstract The objective here is to enrich orange juice through encapsulated lime by‐product extract (LBE) through freeze‐drying, in order to increase lime by‐product consumption, in addition to increasing nutrition value of orange juice. The properties of both the LBE and microparticles are measured. The total polyphenolic compound (TPC) was measured to be 34.5 ± 0.5 (mg gallic acid/g LBE). The obtained value of encapsulation efficiency (EE) was within the 55%–70% range. The encapsulation method was satisfactory. The particle size is within 10–21 μm range, and differences between all treatments were statistically notable (p < 0.05). The lack of melting peaks in the thermal profiles by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) of microparticles confirmed that hesperidin was well embedded in the polymeric cover. According to the sensory evaluations of orange juice which was enriched with LBE microparticles, the bitter taste was not perceived in some treatments.