Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two-Path Aggregation Attention Network With Quad-Patch Data Augmentation for Few-Shot Scene Classification

The few-shot scene classification is dedicated to identifying unseen remote sensing classes when only a very small number of labeled samples are available for reference. Most of the existing few-shot scene classification methods are based on meta-learning and use the episodic learning for training, which lacks the consideration for the utilization of data efficiency. In this article, instead of designing sophisticated meta-learning-based algorithms, we are committed to training a feature extractor with good generalization performance and strong feature extraction capability. Specifically, we propose a novel two-path aggregation attention network with quad-patch data augmentation, called data architecture network (DANet), to solve the problem of few-shot scene classification from both data and architecture aspects. In terms of data, we design a new data augmentation strategy named quad-patch augmentation. We use the characteristics of remote sensing images to chunk and reassemble any existing data, thereby generating pseudo-new data to enrich the training set. In terms of architecture, we present a two-path aggregation attention module that makes it easier for the model to focus on the key clues in a targeted manner. The comparative experiments in natural image datasets and remote sensing image datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our two innovations. In addition, DANet achieves competitive or state-of-the-art (SOTA) results on three benchmark scene classification datasets.
A Review of Suggested Mechanisms of MHC Odor Signaling

Simple Summary Immune genes of the vertebrate MHC vary among individuals. Each individual collection is optimally diverse to provide resistance against some infectious diseases but not too diverse to cause autoimmune diseases. MHC-dependent mate choice aims for optimally complementary MHC alleles. Each potential partner signals through body odor his/her MHC alleles. Identifying the signal molecules was a long-lasting puzzle solved only recently after many deviations as described. Commensal microbiota which are controlled by the individual MHC genes differ among individuals. They were suspected repeatedly to provide the signal, though mice raised germ-free could still smell MHC genes. Carrier hypotheses came in various versions, centered around the specificity of each MHC molecule for binding peptides from diseases, shown to T lymphocytes to induce the immune response. Volatiles of various origins were suggested to fill the place of the peptide and thus reflect the identity of the MHC molecule. Finally, the bound peptides themselves were identified as the sought info-chemicals. Synthesized peptides affect mate choice as predicted. Specific olfactory neurons were shown to react to these peptides but only to the anchors that define the binding specificity. Even eggs choose sperm to produce offspring with optimal MHC, though the signaling pathway needs further research. Abstract Although an individual’s mix of MHC immune genes determines its resistance, finding MHC-dependent mate choice occurred by accident in inbred mice. Inbred mice prefer MHC dissimilar mates, even when the choice was restricted to urine. It took decades to find the info-chemicals, which have to be as polymorphic as the MHC. Microbiota were suggested repeatedly as the origin of the odor signal though germ-free mice maintained normal preference. Different versions of the ‘carrier hypothesis’ suggested MHC molecules carry volatiles after the bound peptide is released. Theory predicted an optimal individual MHC diversity to maximize resistance. The optimally complementary mate should be and is preferred as several studies show. Thus, the odor signal needs to transmit the exact information of the sender’s MHC alleles, as do MHC ligand peptides but not microbiota. The ‘MHC peptide hypothesis’ assumes that olfactory perception of the peptide ligand provides information about the MHC protein in a key-lock fashion. Olfactory neurons react only to the anchors of synthesized MHC peptides, which reflect the binding MHC molecule’s identity. Synthesized peptides supplemented to a male’s signal affect choice in the predicted way, however, not when anchors are mutated. Also, the human brain detects smelled synthesized self-peptides as such. After mate choice, the lottery of meiosis of randomly paired oocyte and sperm haplotypes would often produce MHC non-optimal offspring. In sticklebacks, eggs select MHC-compatible sperm, thus prefer the best combination close to the population optimum.
Reconfigurable Half-Mode SIW Antenna Using Uniaxial Field Programmable Microwave Substrate Structure

This communication presents the design and implementation of a beam steerable leaky wave antenna (LWA) based on integrated electronic devices (varactor diodes). The design uses a half-mode substrate-integrated waveguide (HMSIW) where the short-circuited wall or PEC boundary is realized with field programmable microwave substrate (FPMS)-based unit cells. By virtue of placing integrated varactor diodes in these unit cells, the wavenumber and the phase shift of the propagating signal can be controlled. This allows a beam steering of 25° for a fixed center frequency. Furthermore, control of the varactor bias voltages allows a fixed beam direction over a wide frequency bandwidth. An excellent agreement can be observed between the simulated and measured results, validating the first ever FPMS-based reconfigurable antenna design.
Fast Stable Solvers for Sequentially Semi-Seperable Linear Systems of Equations

We define the class of sequentially semi-separable matrices in this paper. Essentially this is the class of matrices which have low numerical rank on their off diagonal blocks. Examples include banded matrices, semi-separable matrices, their sums as well as inverses of these sums. Fast and stable algorithms for solving linear systems of equations involving such matrices and computing Moore-Penrose inverses are presented. Supporting numerical results are also presented. In addition, fast algorithms to construct and update this matrix structure for any given matrix are presented. Finally, numerical results that show that the coefficient matrices resulting from global spectral discretizations of certain integral equations indeed have this matrix structure are given.
Aircraft Distributed Electric Propulsion Technologies—A Review

Global transportation has shifted toward electromobility to achieve net-zero emission, and in the next few decades, commercial electric aircraft is likely to become a reality. This transition has embarked on through the existing more electric aircraft (MEA), and the ultimate goal will be potentially achieved by hybrid-electric and all-electric airliners, along with green fuels, such as green hydrogen or supercritical CO2 (sCO2) and its potential Gg CO2 equivalent elimination—with or without combustion. Electric propulsion replaces conventional jet propulsors with electric fans powered by electric generators rotated by an engine, a combination of generators and energy storage, or just energy storage. An appealing idea is to distribute the electric fans along the aircraft wings or tails to improve aerodynamics, boost energy efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions and acoustic noise. Focusing on distributed electric propulsion (DEP) systems, this article reviews the state-of-the-art advancements in aircraft electrification. Three major DEP categories, i.e., turboelectric, hybrid-electric, and all-electric propulsion technologies, are investigated. Although all of them utilize electric fans as propulsors, their system structures and power generation stages are different. Hence, comprehensive considerations are required to optimize the DEP system designs. Starting with the multifarious electrical system architectures proposed in the literature, a thorough review is conducted including the system parametric specifications, design considerations of power converters, the power electronics devices’ characteristics in cryogenic conditions, and various energy storage systems. This review aims to provide a reference to researchers, engineers, and policy-makers in aviation to accelerate the progress toward future net-zero emissions.
A shell element for design‐oriented elasto‐plastic analysis of reinforced concrete wall structures using convex optimization

The iterative nature of the design processes for building structures requires computational models to be robust, efficient, and accessible while reflecting the actual structural behavior with sufficient accuracy. For limit state analysis of reinforced concrete structures, efficient linear‐elastic models are generally inaccurate, while the modeling and computational complexity of most high‐accuracy nonlinear models inhibit their use in design processes for large‐scale structures. A recently proposed framework for elasto‐plastic analysis of cracked reinforced concrete panels was demonstrated to be capable of analyzing models with more than 10,000 finite elements within minutes on a standard personal computer. This paper proposes an extension of this work in terms of a finite shell element for elasto‐plastic analysis of fully cracked reinforced concrete wall structures subjected to monotonic loading. Using nonlinear‐elastic constitutive models to imitate elasto‐plasticity, the proposed shell element couples the in‐plane section force variation to the nonlinear through‐thickness stress variation in a stress‐based formulation using a layer‐based submodel. The method is validated with exact solutions, and its applicability in design processes involving large‐scale structures is demonstrated using a finite element model of a four‐story stairwell with more than three million variables, which is solved within minutes on a personal computer.
Heurísticas para Matriz de Substituição do LSB utilizando Algoritmos Genéticos e Path Relinking

Com o aumento do tráfego de dados, a necessidade de transmitir informações de modo seguro ganhou outro perspectiva. Um modo de proteger os dados enviados na Internet é inserir a informação relevante dentro de uma imagem comum. Este trabalho propõem a proteção da informação secreta, combinando o algoritmo genético com o path relinking para otimizar a matriz de substituição, a fim de melhorar a qualidade da estego imagem gerada. Resultados computacionais mostraram que o método proposto supera a técnica de substituição do LSB, do algoritmo genético e outras variações, tanto em termos de segurança e qualidade da estego imagem.
Loss of Avian Intromittent Organs as a Sperm Competition Strategy: A Race to Be Last

The loss of the intromittent organ (IO) in the majority of birds remains unexplained. Here, I propose that IO loss results from sperm competition in the context of the unique avian sperm storage system. The first stage of fertilization is the movement of sperm through the vagina from the site of ejaculation to the sperm storage tubules (SSTs) at the uterovaginal junction. In a second stage, sperm are released from the SSTs and move through the uterus to the site of fertilization in the infundibulum. Last-male fertilization precedence can occur if sperm that arrive later at the uterovaginal junction occupy uterus-side SSTs, which then have a head start in the race to the infundibulum with each ovulation. Under such “last-in, first-out” conditions, there is strong sperm competition to arrive later at the SSTs. Consequently, the optimal male strategy would be placement of the ejaculate at the cloacal opening to allow any other sperm in the vagina to reach the SSTs first. Cloacal placement is effectively achieved by loss of the IO. The evolution of altricial development in Neoaves, the largest clade that lacks IOs, created conditions that favor IO loss. Specifically, the smaller clutch sizes and hatching asynchrony of altricial birds increase the intensity of sperm competition for fertilization of early eggs in the laying sequence and thus the selective advantage of later arrival at the SSTs. The rarity of IO loss among all animals suggests that the complex mechanism of avian fertilization creates unique conditions for sperm competition.
R- Is Superior to S-Form of α-Lipoic Acid in Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects in Laying Hens

The development of single enantiomers with high efficiency and low toxic activity has become a hot spot for the development and application of drugs and active additives. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of the application of α-lipoic acid with a different optical rotation to alleviate the inflammation response and oxidative stress induced by oxidized fish oil in laying hens. Sixty-four 124-week-old Peking Red laying hens were randomly allocated to four groups with eight replicates of two birds each. The normal group was fed basal diets supplemented with 1% fresh fish oil (FO), and the oxidative stress model group was constructed with diets supplemented with 1% oxidized fish oil (OFO). The two treatment groups were the S-form of the α-lipoic acid model with 1% oxidized fish oil (OFO + S-LA) and the R-form of the α-lipoic acid model with 1% oxidized fish oil (OFO + R-LA) added at 100 mg/kg, respectively. Herein, these results were evaluated by the breeding performance, immunoglobulin, immune response, estrogen secretion, antioxidant factors of the serum and oviduct, and pathological observation of the uterus part of the oviduct. From the results, diets supplemented with oxidized fish oil can be relatively successful in constructing a model of inflammation and oxidative stress. The OFO group significantly increased the levels of the serum inflammatory factor (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ) and the oxidative factor MDA and decreased the activity of the antioxidant enzyme (T-AOC, T-SOD, GSH-Px, GSH, and CAT) in the oviduct. The addition of both S-LA and R-LA significantly reduced the levels of serum inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ), increased the activity of antioxidant indexes (T-AOC, T-SOD, GSH-Px, GSH, and CAT), and decreased the MDA contents in the serum and oviduct. Meanwhile, the supplementation of S-LA and R-LA also mitigated the negative effects of the OFO on the immunoglobulins (IgA and IgM) and serum hormone levels (P and E2). In addition, it was worth noting that the R-LA was significantly more effective than the S-LA in some inflammatory (IL-1β) and antioxidant indices (T-SOD, GSH, and CAT). Above all, both S-LA and R-LA can alleviate the inflammation and oxidative damage caused by oxidative stress in aged laying hens, and R-LA is more effective than S-LA. Thus, these findings will provide basic data for the potential development of α-lipoic acid as a chiral dietary additive for laying hens.
The optimal chest compression point on sternum based on chest-computed tomography: A retrospective study

Background: High-quality chest compression is crucial for cardiac arrest patients. However, only few studies are focusing on the optimal compression point. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the optimal compression point based on chest-computed tomography. Methods: We retrospectively selected 166 adult health subjects between January 2018 and May 2018 in a university-affiliated hospital. Results: The median length of sternum was 14.9 cm. The median length from the inter-nipple line to the distal end of sternum was 1.0 cm. The median length from the point at which the maximal left ventricular diameter projected onto the sternum to the distal end of the sternum was −1.4 (–2.2 to 0.0) cm. The median value of the length from the inter-nipple line to the distal end of sternum plus the length from the point at which the maximal left ventricular diameter projected onto the sternum to the distal end of the sternum was 2.0 (1.0–3.1) cm. Conclusion: One size does not fit all. The point recommended by the current guideline may not appropriate for Chinese person. Further studies are required focusing on individual chest compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Uso de Árvores de Ataque e Técnicas de Mutação de Código na Segurança de Aplicações Web

A proliferação de aplicações baseadas em web tem aumentado a exposição das empresas a uma variedade de ameaças. Há várias etapas no ciclo de vida das aplicações que são destinadas a prevenir ou mitigar essas ameaças. Os testes de segurança são muito úteis, desde que sejam eficientes. Este trabalho foca a validação dos testes de segurança das aplicações web e propõe uma metodologia para validação de ferramentas e testes de segurança, baseada em árvores de ataques, derivadas das vulnerabilidades conhecidas e divulgadas pelas comunidades de segurança afins. Para validar a eficácia dos testes derivados dessas árvores de ataque, inserem-se vulnerabilidades nas aplicações através de técnicas de Mutação de Código.
ON FRACTAL DIMENSIONS OF FRACTAL FUNCTIONS USING FUNCTION SPACES

Abstract Based on the work of Mauldin and Williams [‘On the Hausdorff dimension of some graphs’, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 298(2) (1986), 793–803] on convex Lipschitz functions, we prove that fractal interpolation functions belong to the space of convex Lipschitz functions under certain conditions. Using this, we obtain some dimension results for fractal functions. We also give some bounds on the fractal dimension of fractal functions with the help of oscillation spaces.
Extended Phase Boundaries and the Spell-Out Trap

Grano and Lasnik (2008) argue that phases should be extended if features are still unvalued on the complement of a phase head at the end of what would normally be a phase. Thus, if pronouns are bound variables with unvalued features, then the phase that matters for resolving the unvalued features is extended. However, the one case that their generalization should not cover, namely, local anaphora, suggests that phase extension based on unvalued features is not the right explanation of the bound pronoun effect, and that phases for anaphora are not coordinated with phases that restrict the relations that the bound pronoun effect encompasses.
An efficient ripple-free LED driver with zero-voltage switching for street lighting applications

ABSTRACT An efficient ripple-free light-emitting diode (LED) driver circuit is proposed with zero-voltage switching (ZVS) and dimming control. The proposed driver circuit utilizes a full-bridge configuration. The LED lamp current is the sum of two inductor currents which are out of phase. This makes the LED lamp current ripple free. Larger portion of lamp power is supplied by the dc voltage source connected in series with LED lamp. Small amount of power is processed by bridge circuit. Devices of the bridge circuit conduct only ripple current of the load inductor and a small current of an inductor which helps in ZVS. Hence, both conduction and switching losses are reduced. In addition, LED lamp current can be regulated at required operating current. The dimming feature is attained by on-off control method. This proposed configuration also helps in reducing components count. An experimental prototype of 87 W has been developed and tested at full load and different dimming levels. Experimental results validate simulation results.
EnsyNet: A Dataset for Encouragement and Sympathy Detection

More and more people turn to Online Health Communities to seek social support during their illnesses. By interacting with peers with similar medical conditions, users feel emotionally and socially supported, which in turn leads to better adherence to therapy. Current studies in Online Health Communities focus only on the presence or absence of emotional support, while the available datasets are scarce or limited in terms of size. To enable development on emotional support detection, we introduce EnsyNet, a dataset of 6,500 sentences annotated with two types of support: encouragement and sympathy. We train BERT-based classifiers on this dataset, and apply our best BERT model in two large scale experiments. The results of these experiments show that receiving encouragements or sympathy improves users’ emotional state, while the lack of emotional support negatively impacts patients’ emotional state.
REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL PROJECT 2022–2024

1 The Principal Investigator will act as contact person for this Special Project and, in particular, will be asked to register the project, provide annual progress reports of the project’s activities, etc. 2 These figures refer to data archived in ECFS and MARS. If e.g. you archive x GB in year one and y GB in year two and don’t delete anything you need to request x + y GB for the second project year etc. If this is a continuation of an existing project, please state the computer project account assigned previously. SP ___________________
Divide and Code: Efficient and Real-time Data Recovery from Corrupted LoRa Frames

Due to power limitations and coexistence in ISM bands, up to 50% of the Long Range (LoRa)-frames are corrupted at low signal strengths (≈ -115dBm) and the built-in redundancy schemes in LoRa-Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) cannot correct the corrupted bytes. To address this, higher Spreading Factors (SF) are used resulting in wasted energy, increased traffic load, and highly compromised effective data rate. Our on-field experiments showed a high correlation in the corruption of close-by frames. We propose a novel Divide & Code (DC) scheme for LoRaWANs as an alternative to using higher SF. DC pre-encodes LoRa payloads using lightweight and memoryless encoding. After receiving a corrupted frame, DC uses a combination of most probable patterns of errors, Time Thresholds (TT), and splitting of payloads into subgroups for batch processing to recover frames effectively and maintain low complexity and timely operation. By implementing DC on our LoRa-testbed, we show it outperforms vanilla-LoRaWAN and Reed-Solomon codes in decoding and energy consumption. Our schemes decode up to 80.5% of corrupted payloads on SF10 by trying only 0.03% of all patterns of error combinations. TT keeps processing times below 2 ms with only minor reductions in the decoding ratio of corrupted payloads. Finally, we showcase that introducing 30% redundancy with DC results in minimum energy consumption and high decoding ratio at low SNRs.