Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Fast Patches-Based Imaging Algorithm for 3-D Multistatic Imaging

Three-dimensional multistatic imaging is a powerful noninvasive examination tool for many military and civilian applications. Recently, the sparsity-regularized optimization has been used as a popular imaging technique to enhance the image quality. However, it suffers from the expensive computational cost, since its solution is obtained by a time-consuming iterative scheme, which is typically computationally prohibitive for large-scale imaging problems. To overcome this difficulty, this challenging imaging problem is converted into an image processing problem in this letter, which can be performed over small-scale overlapping patches and be efficiently solved in a parallel or distributed manner. In this way, the proposed qualitative scheme could be utilized to solve large-scale imaging problems. Exemplary simulation results are provided to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed methodology.
The Foreign Relations of Palestine During the Early Bronze Age . By J. B. Hennessy. 12¼ × 9¾. Pp. xx + 122 + 77 pls. + 9 charts. London: Quaritch for Colt Archaeological Institute, 1967. Price not stated.

what is classified by these terms in this book has to do with Istro-Pontic culture, and need owe little or nothing to peoples or influences coming from the west. More complicated still is the introduction of 'Hallstatt I ' as equivalent to HaA in Reinecke's old-time scheme for Bavaria, and so on to a 'La Tene' culture in the fifth century B.C. that is purely Thracian in content. Despite difficulties of this kind, this book is a great achievement, and a most useful guide to further study.
Measurements of electrical resistance and temperature distribution during current assisted sintering of nanosilver die-attach material

Low-temperature sintering of nanosilver is emerging as a promising lead-free die-attach solution for packaging of semiconductor devices for high-power density or high-temperature applications. However, the bonding process requires either a relatively long heating cycle up to one hour under zero pressure or hot pressing at which the parts are under several MPa of uniaxial stress for tens of seconds to a few minutes at the sintering temperature. In this study, we investigated the use of current assisted sintering technology to simplify and speed-up the bonding process for joining copper parts. We found that strong joining strength could be achieved under one second. To understand this ultra-rapid bonding process and optimize the processing parameters, the electrical resistance across and surface temperature distribution around the silver bond-line during the current heating were characterized in relation to the applied current and current-on time. The electrical resistance was measured by a four-point method, and the surface temperature distribution was measured by an infrared camera equipped with a macro lens. We found that the electrical resistance decreased with increasing current-on time to an asymptotic value. The peak temperature and duration at the joint changed rapidly with alternating current (AC) and current-on time. When the current-on time was for 8 00 ms at an AC of 7 kA, the peak temperature around the bond-line reached about 500 °C. Since there should be temperature difference between the surface of the sintered joint and the joint inside, finite element method was used to analyze the temperature distribution of the whole nanosilver joint based on the measured surface temperature distribution of nanosilver joint.
Single site-controlled In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots: growth, properties and device integration

Results obtained by an advanced growth of site-controlled quantum dots (SCQDs) on pre-patterned nanoholes and their integration into both photonic resonators and nanoelectronic memories are summarized. A specific technique has been pursued to improve the optical quality of single SCQDs. Quantum dot (QD) layers have been vertically stacked but spectrally detuned for single SCQD studies. Thereby, the average emission linewidth of single QDs could be reduced from 2.3 meV for SCQDs in a first QD layer close to the etched nanoholes down to 600 µeV in the third InAs QD layer. Accurate SCQD nucleation on large QD distances is maintained by vertical strain induced QD coupling throughout the QD stacks. Record narrow linewidths of individual SCQDs down to ∼110 µeV have been obtained. Experiments performed on coupled photonic SCQD–resonator devices show an enhancement of spontaneous emission. SCQDs have also been integrated deterministically in high electron mobility heterostructures and flash memory operation at room temperature has been observed.
Smart Mirror: Intelligent Makeup Recommendation and Synthesis

The female facial image beautification usually requires professional editing softwares, which are relatively difficult for common users. In this demo, we introduce a practical system for automatic and personalized facial makeup recommendation and synthesis. First, a model describing the relations among facial features, facial attributes and makeup attributes is learned as the makeup recommendation model for suggesting the most suitable makeup attributes. Then the recommended makeup attributes are seamlessly synthesized onto the input facial image.
Application of Gaseous Ozone for Inactivation of Bacillus subtilis Spores

Abstract The effectiveness of gaseous ozone (O3) as a disinfectant was tested on Bacillus subtilis spores, which share the same physiological characteristics as Bacillus anthracis spores that cause the anthrax disease. Spores dried on surfaces of different carrier material were exposed to O3 gas in the range of 500–5000 ppm and at relative humidity (RH) of 70–95%. Gaseous O3 was found to be very effective against the B. subtilis spores, and at O3 concentrations as low as 3 mg/L (1500 ppm), ∼3-log inactivation was obtained within 4 hr of exposure. The inactivation curves consisted of a short lag phase followed by an exponential decrease in the number of surviving spores. Prehydration of the bacterial spores has eliminated the initial lag phase. The inactivation rate increased with increasing O3 concentration but not ∼3 mg/L. The inactivation rate also increased with increase in RH. Different survival curves were obtained for various surfaces used to carry spores. Inactivation rates of spores on glass, a vinyl floor tile, and office paper were nearly the same. Whereas cut pile carpet and hardwood flooring surfaces resulted in much lower inactivation rates, another type of carpet (loop pile) showed significant enhancement in the inactivation of the spores.
A Parameter-Independent Clustering Framework

The existing clustering algorithms are usually dependent on one or more input parameters, which are not easy to determine in many cases. In this paper, DSets-histeq is presented as a parameter-independent framework for data clustering. By histogram equalization transformation of pairwise data similarity matrices, the dominant sets algorithm is used to generate parameter-independent initial clusters, which are typically relatively large subsets of real clusters. This enables one to expand the initial clusters to the final ones with a cluster-growing algorithm and determine the involved parameters adaptively by making use of the information in the initial clusters. A simple yet effective method is proposed to utilize the information captured in the initial clusters. Experiments on various datasets and comparison with state-of-the-art clustering algorithms are used to illustrate the potential of the proposed framework.
Tellurium‐Induced Neuropathy: Metabolic Alterations Associated with Demyelination and Remyelination in Rat Sciatic Nerve

Abstract: Rats fed a diet containing 1.25% elemental tellurium initiated on postnatal day 20 undergo a transient neuropathy characterized by synchronous demyelination of peripheral nerves. In sciatic nerve, the extent of demyelination was maximal after 5 days of tellurium exposure; there was a loss of 25% of the myelin, as assayed by concentration of myelin‐specific P0 protein. Tellurium‐induced alterations in the metabolic capacity of Schwann cells were examined by measuring the synthesis of myelin lipids in vitro in isolated sciatic nerve segments. Exposure to tellurium resulted in an early marked decrease of ∼50% in overall incorporation of [14C]acetate into lipids, with a preferential depression in synthesis of cerebrosides, cholesterol, and ethanolamine plasmalogens (components enriched in myelin). Most dramatically, within 1 day of initiation of tellurium exposure, there was a profound increase in [14C]acetate‐derived radioactivity in squalene; 23% of incorporated label was in this intermediate of cholesterol biosynthesis, compared to < 0.5% in controls. In association with the remyelinating phase seen after 5 days of tellurium exposure, synthesis of myelin components gradually returned to normal levels. After 30 days, metabolic and morphologic alterations were no longer apparent. We suggest that the sequence of metabolic events in sciatic nerve following tellurium treatment initially involves inhibition of the conversion of squalene to 2,3‐epoxysqualene, and that this block in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway results, either directly or indirectly, in the inhibition of the synthesis of myelin components and breakdown of myelin.
Coupling Reranking and Structured Output SVM Co-Train for Multitarget Tracking

Most of the previous works for multitarget tracking employ two strategies: global optimization and online state estimation. In general, global methods attempt to prevent local optimization and find the best results given global models. However, in time-critical applications, global optimization has long temporal latency. In contrast, most of the online algorithms obtain the states with greedy estimation, in which the errors are hard to be corrected. In this paper, we combine these two strategies and propose an online tracking approach with short-term storage to correct some local association errors. Based on structured output support vector machine, we propose a new framework with multiple online learners to produce multiple best local linkages, and novel features based on previously generated multiframe associations are designed for reranking of these multiple linkages. The reranking also serves as the appropriate mediator for updating of the online learners by co-train algorithm. The experimental results illustrate the advantage and robustness of this reranking algorithm, and its discrimination to find optimal ones. Comparison with some state-of-the-art methods proves that our proposed method is competitive to global optimal ones and is superior to other online tracking algorithms.
Wave Interactions in Localizing Media - a Coin with Many Faces

A variety of heterogeneous potentials are capable of localizing linear noninteracting waves. In this work, we review different examples of heterogeneous localizing potentials which were realized in experiments. We then discuss the impact of nonlinearity induced by wave interactions, in particular, its destructive effect on the localizing properties of the heterogeneous potentials.
Evaluating and researching the effectiveness of educational interventions

Members of the medical profession seem reluctant to value research into the effectiveness of educational interventions.1 One reason for this reluctance may be that there is a fundamental difficulty in addressing the questions that everyone wants answered: what works, in what context, with which groups, and at what cost? Unfortunately, there may not be simple answers to these questions. Defining true effectiveness, separating out the part played by the various components of an educational intervention, and clarifying the real cost:benefit ratio are as difficult in educational research as they are in the evaluation of a complex treatment performed on a sample group of people who each have different needs, circumstances, and personalities. ### Summary points Choosing a methodology to use to investigate a research question is no different in educational research than it is in any other type of research. Careful attention …
Elevated oxidative stress and reciprocal reduction of vascular endothelial growth factor levels with severity of COPD.

STUDY OBJECTIVES The prevalent theory concerning the pathogenesis of COPD is that it is an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants. However, it has been reported that a decrease in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) might affect the pathogenesis of COPD. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the differences between oxidative stress and VEGF levels, and the severity of COPD. DESIGN Controlled cross-sectional analysis. SETTING University hospital. PARTICIPANTS Twelve healthy control subjects and 57 COPD patients were included in this study. These COPD patients were divided into four groups based on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease classification (mild COPD, 14 patients; moderate COPD, 15 patients; severe COPD, 16 patients; very severe COPD, 12 patients). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Inflammatory markers, degree of oxidative stress, and VEGF levels were examined in sputum samples from all subjects. Nitrogen oxide levels in induced sputum were significantly higher in COPD patients than in healthy control subjects, and they increased with increases in the severity of COPD. In contrast, peroxynitrite inhibitory activity decreased with increases in the severity of COPD. Therefore, the mean (SD) peroxynitrite stress (ie, the nitrogen oxide level/peroxynitrite inhibitory activity ratio) steeply increased with increases in the severity of COPD (mild COPD: 8.4; SD, 1.5; p = 0.02; moderate COPD: 10.8; SD, 1.4; p < 0.0001; severe COPD: 14.5; SD, 2.5; p < 0.0001; very severe COPD: 18.3; SD, 4.1; p < 0.0001) compared with that of healthy control subjects. VEGF levels in induced sputum reciprocally decreased with severity of COPD (mild COPD: 1,360 pg/mL; SD, 800 pg/mL; p = 0.97; moderate COPD: 1,180 pg/mL; SD, 760 pg/mL; p = 0.50; severe COPD: 650 pg/mL; SD, 450 pg/mL; p = 0.007; very severe COPD: 480 pg/mL, SD, 240 pg/mL; p = 0.002). In addition, peroxynitrite inhibitory activity in COPD patients exhibited an accelerated decline from the mean VEGF level in healthy control subjects. CONCLUSIONS Elevated oxidative stress levels and a reciprocal reduction of VEGF levels in induced sputum were prominent with increases in the severity of COPD. Thus, epithelial cell injury mediated by oxidative stress may induce the decrease in lung VEGF levels, resulting in the promotion of the development of COPD.
Muscular dystrophy in young girls

SEVERAL RESPECTED authorities have stated that the Duchenne form of muscular dystrophy may occur in girls,l-6 and some have postulated an autosomal recessive form of the same disease.3-7 Yet there is strong evidence that Duchenne dystrophy is inherited in an Xlinked recessive pattern.298-18 Others have therefore invoked the Lyon hypothesis to explain the cases in girls.lg-21 It is also possible, of course, that the girls have a different disease which merely resembles Duchenne dystrophy. In our own experience, cases clinically resembling muscular dystrophy in young girls differ in essentials from the disease in boys. Because of this discrepancy, we analyzed our cases and scrutinized all previously reported cases diagnosed as Duchenne dystrophy in girls. The disease in the latter group was also very atypical and laboratory confirmation was almost always lacking. Theoretically, it is possible that Duchenne dystrophy does occur in girls, but complete documentation of a single case is not yet available and awaits elucidation of the biochemical defect.
Molecular and cellular pharmacology Inhibition of P 2 Y 6 receptor-mediated phospholipase C activation and Ca 2 þ signalling by prostaglandin E 2 in J 774 murine macrophages

Extracellular nucleotides act as inflammatory mediators through activation of multiple purinoceptors. Under inflammatory conditions, the purinergic signalling is affected by various inflammatory mediators. We previously showed that prostaglandin (PG) E2 suppressed the elevation of intracellular Ca2þ concentration ([Ca2þ]i) stimulated by P2X4, P2Y2, and P2Y6 receptors in J774 murine macrophages. In this study, we examined the mechanism of PGE2 inhibitory effects on P2Y6 receptor-mediated function in J774 cells. The P2Y6 receptor agonist UDP induced a sustained elevation of [Ca2þ]i by stimulating the phospholipase C (PLC) signalling pathway. PGE2 inhibited [Ca 2þ]i elevation and phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis in a concentration-dependent manner. J774 cells highly expressed the E-type prostanoid 2 (EP2) receptor subtype, a Gscoupled receptor. PGE2 and a selective EP2 receptor agonist caused cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation in J774 cells. The inhibitory effects of PGE2 on P2Y6 receptor-mediated responses were mimicked by the selective EP2 receptor agonist. Although EP2 receptor is linked to adenylyl cyclase activation, PGE2-induced inhibition of Ca2þ response and PI hydrolysis could not be mimicked by a lipophilic cAMP derivative, dibutyryl cAMP, or an adenylyl cyclase activator, forskolin. The inhibition of UDP-induced PLC activation by PGE2 was not affected by down-regulation of protein kinase C by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate treatment. PGE2 inhibited PLC activation induced by aluminium fluoride, but not by the Ca2þ-ionophore, ionomycin. Finally, the inhibition of UDP-induced PLC activation by PGE2 was impaired by Gs knockdown using siRNA. These results suggest that EP2 receptor activation in macrophages negatively controls the Gq/11-PLC signalling through a Gs-mediated, but cAMP-independent signalling mechanism. & 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
ATLAS detector simulation: status and outlook

The simulation program for the ATLAS experiment at CERN is currently in a full operational mode and integrated into the ATLAS's common analysis framework, ATHENA. The OO approach, based on GEANT4, and in use during the DC2 data challenge has been interfaced within ATHENA and to GEANT4 using the LCG dictionaries and Python scripting. The robustness of the application was proved during the DC2 data challenge. The Python interface has added the flexibility, modularity and interactivity that the simulation tool needs to tackle, in a common way, different full ATLAS simulations setups, test beams and cosmic ray studies. Generation, simulation and digitization steps were exercised for performance and robustness tests. The comparison with real data has been possible in the context of the ATLAS combined test beam (2004) and ongoing cosmic ray studies
RNA modeling, naturally

The biological functions of RNA sequences are directly related to the folds they can adopt after transcription. Nowadays it is apparent that even coding RNA transcripts depend on complex architectures for their efficient translation (1). Furthermore, several noncoding RNA transcripts exert their biological functions through their folded states. RNA elements called riboswitches (2) are able to recognize a huge variety of ligands of various sizes and, thereby, exert their functions at the transcriptional or translational levels. In the absence of structural methods (like X-ray crystallography or NMR techniques) or chemical and biochemical solution probing methods, the prediction of RNA architecture is still a major challenge. However, attracted by the huge interest in noncoding RNAs, several groups of theoreticians have introduced original and innovative approaches to fold in silico RNA sequences. Such methods, highly complex, rely on force fields at various scales and computer algorithms with different levels of approximations for attempting to master the tremendous complexity of mixing locally atomic details and globally long-range contacts typical of large molecular assemblies. A study in PNAS by Sim et al. (3) introduces an original approach to deal accurately and efficiently with both long-range and short-range interactions during the modeling of large RNA architectures.
Broadband GaN switch mode class E power amplifier for UHF applications

In this work a broad-band class E power amplifier (PA) is designed, manufactured and measured. 400 MHz bandwidth with a center frequency of 800 MHz was realized using a GaN HEMT device. A novel and easy circuit topology is proposed for broad-band bandpass filter with integrated output matching network. Different filter types are discussed, suitable topology is chosen and design equations are shown. A maximum drain efficiency of 87.8 % (PAE = 80.6 %) is observed. Maximum output power of 49 W is measured with 16.3 dB power gain at the 1 dB compression point.
A 2.5-to-3.3GHz CMOS Class-D VCO

Power consumption in LC oscillators for wireless communications is a popular research topic, where the Class-C oscillator has been proposed to improve the efficiency of the standard Class-B oscillator (most often referred to as cross-coupled differential-pair LC-tank oscillator). In this work, we introduce the Class-D oscillator to further reduce power consumption for a desired phase noise level. Class-D oscillators have been known since 1959, but their use in GHz applications had to wait for nm CMOS processes offering excellent switches with manageable parasitic capacitances. The VCO has been designed in a standard 65nm CMOS process without any thick metal layer. The LC tank, employing a single-turn four-finger 0.59nH inductor, has a Q of 10-11 at 3GHz, estimated from post-layout simulations (including PCB) fitting the measured power consumption.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Basic/Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor Family in Rice and Arabidopsis1[W]

The basic/helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors and their homologs form a large family in plant and animal genomes. They are known to play important roles in the specification of tissue types in animals. On the other hand, few plant bHLH proteins have been studied functionally. Recent completion of whole genome sequences of model plants Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa) allows genome-wide analysis and comparison of the bHLH family in flowering plants. We have identified 167 bHLH genes in the rice genome, and their phylogenetic analysis indicates that they form well-supported clades, which are defined as subfamilies. In addition, sequence analysis of potential DNA-binding activity, the sequence motifs outside the bHLH domain, and the conservation of intron/exon structural patterns further support the evolutionary relationships among these proteins. The genome distribution of rice bHLH genes strongly supports the hypothesis that genome-wide and tandem duplication contributed to the expansion of the bHLH gene family, consistent with the birth-and-death theory of gene family evolution. Bioinformatics analysis suggests that rice bHLH proteins can potentially participate in a variety of combinatorial interactions, endowing them with the capacity to regulate a multitude of transcriptional programs. In addition, similar expression patterns suggest functional conservation between some rice bHLH genes and their close Arabidopsis homologs.
Linking Engineering and Medical Training: A USC program seeks to introduce medical and engineering students to medical device development.

Medical students are attracted by the prospect of a meaningful addition to their clinical work. Engineering students are excited by a unique opportunity to learn directly alongside their medical student peers. For both, as well as the scientific community at large, the boutique program at the University of Southern California (USC) linking engineering and medical training at the graduate level is instructive of a new way of approaching engineering education that can potentially provide benefits to both students and society. Students who have grown up in an era of ? mass customization? in the retail and service industries can enjoy that same degree of flexibility also in the realm of education. At the same time, society gains engineers who have developed an increased empathy and awareness of the clinical contexts in which their innovations will be implemented.