Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection and Segmentation of Mature Green Tomatoes Based on Mask R-CNN with Automatic Image Acquisition Approach

Since the mature green tomatoes have color similar to branches and leaves, some are shaded by branches and leaves, and overlapped by other tomatoes, the accurate detection and location of these tomatoes is rather difficult. This paper proposes to use the Mask R-CNN algorithm for the detection and segmentation of mature green tomatoes. A mobile robot is designed to collect images round-the-clock and with different conditions in the whole greenhouse, thus, to make sure the captured dataset are not only objects with the interest of users. After the training process, RestNet50-FPN is selected as the backbone network. Then, the feature map is trained through the region proposal network to generate the region of interest (ROI), and the ROIAlign bilinear interpolation is used to calculate the target region, such that the corresponding region in the feature map is pooled to a fixed size based on the position coordinates of the preselection box. Finally, the detection and segmentation of mature green tomatoes is realized by the parallel actions of ROI target categories, bounding box regression and mask. When the Intersection over Union is equal to 0.5, the performance of the trained model is the best. The experimental results show that the F1-Score of bounding box and mask region all achieve 92.0%. The image acquisition processes are fully unobservable, without any user preselection, which are a highly heterogenic mix, the selected Mask R-CNN algorithm could also accurately detect mature green tomatoes. The performance of this proposed model in a real greenhouse harvesting environment is also evaluated, thus facilitating the direct application in a tomato harvesting robot.
Conducting Side Sheet Loading to Enhance the Bidirectional Gain of a Wide Rectangular Slot Antenna in the 6–8.5 GHz Band

Bidirectional gain of a wide rectangular slot antenna resonating over the 6 − 8.5 GHz band is enhanced by loading a pair of conducting sheets on the ground plane edges. These sheets are vertically loaded with respect to the slot antenna for meeting two purposes – (i) to appropriately converge the oblique radiation of the slot towards the broadside direction for enhanced gain and (ii) to retain the original impedance band (reflection coefficient ≤ −10 dB) of the slot by avoiding the formation of a resonant cavity (as in the case of superstrate loaded antennas). Optimized antenna using FR-4 substrate of side 50 mm has an overall size of 2. 2λ0 × 1. 2λ0 × 0. 5λ0, where λ0 is the free-space wavelength at the mid-band frequency of the operating band. Measurements of fabricated antenna prototype demonstrate an impedance band of 5.97–8.53 GHz with bidirectional radiation pattern, with peak in-band gain of 5.52 dBi. The average gain improvement in the band is 3.99 dB, relative to the wide-slot antenna without sheet loading. The main attraction of the proposed method is its non-resonant nature, which enables almost uniform gain enhancement throughout the original impedance band, with bidirectional radiation pattern.
Determinants of Reluctance to Initial Public Offering in Cameroonian Financial Market

The main objective of this study was to identify the specific characteristics of companies in Cameroon and to highlight the factors that explain their reluctance to be listed on the stock market. Thus, in order to build the state of the art appropriate to this objective, we had to follow three lines of investigation: the theories related to the listing of firms on the stock market, their specific characteristics, and the cross-fertilization of these two fields. On the basis of the literature, four explanatory hypotheses were deduced: they are related to the shareholding structure of firms, to the financial characteristics, to the size of the firm and to the socio-demographic characteristics of the managers. To test these hypotheses, a survey was conducted among 40 SAs in the city of Douala. The data was processed with the SPSS 20 software and we used flat sorting, cross-sorting, pearson correlation test as well as linear regression. This methodology allowed us to obtain the results according to which the family and filial character and the size of the company are mainly the factors of reluctance of the listing on the stock exchange on the one hand, and the behavioral factors of the company managers, in particular the level of education and the experience on the other hand.
Research on Kinematics Joint Type Mobile Robot Platform for Thin Coal Seam Inspection

Due to the high labor intensity of the maintenance workers, the narrow space and harsh environments in mining process of thin coal seam, an inspection robot to adapt to the thin seam environment instead of workers for the inspection work is urgently need . In this paper, we research on a bionic joint type inspection robot motion platform in thin coal seam, and study the kinematics analysis, which is a theoretical foundation for this kind of the robot platform control.
Secure Energy Efficiency Resource Allocation for D2D Communication With Full-Duplex Radio

In this paper, we investigate the issue of resource allocation for secure communications in Divice-to-divice(D2D) network with full-duplex (FD) radio, for maximizing the overall secure energy efficiency(SEE). Under the power constraint and secrecy capacity requirement, the resource allocation problem involves the cluster head selection and subcarrier power allocation. Since the considered optimization problem is non-liner which is difficult to solve, it is decomposed into two subproblems. Firstly, we select the best cluster head with the VIKOR algorithm based on the attributes we propose. Secondly, we transform it into convex optimization by exploiting a series of mathematical tools, such as Parametric programming, Lagrange dual method and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) optimal conditions, resulting in an efficient iterative algorithm to achieve the suboptimal allocation of power. Simulation results illustrate the suboptimal SEE can be guaranteed by our proposed algorithm.
500 Ω-m—Low Enough Resistivity for a Cable Ground Shield Semicon?

In modern distribution cables, the stress control layers extruded over the conductor and insulation play a critical role in protecting the insulation from stress enhancements caused by the conductor, shield wires or tapes, etc. The requirements for the conductor and ground shield stress control layers differ somewhat based on their differing environment. The conductor stress control layer is in the highest temperature region of the cable and, if resistive, must have stable resistivity as a function of time and temperature. The ground shield semicon is in a lower temperature region of the cable but may not be in intimate contact with the neutral wires, especially for an unjacketed cable.
Examining Information and Communication Technologies Preservice Teachers’ Views On Technology Integration and Their Roles In This Process /Bilişim Teknolojileri Öğretmen Adaylarının Teknoloji Entegrasyonuna ve Bu Süreçteki Rollerine İlişkin Görüşlerinin

Integrating technology into teaching-learning is a complex process including a number of elements such as teacher, student, school administration, infrastructure, and curriculum. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) teachers’ perceptions regarding the nature of integration process and their roles in this process are of great importance. This study examines how prospective ICT teachers perceive technology integration process and their roles and responsibilities in this process. The participants (n=51) included 4th grade preservice teachers attending in the course named Technology Planning and Coordination in Schools during 2014-2015 Fall semester in the Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology in a large university in Ankara. Students were asked to create an infographic on how they perceive either technology integration process or their roles in this process. Students’ infographics were analyzed individually by the four researchers. The results revealed that students designed 4 different types of infographics related to the technology integration process. These included the components of technology integration, technology integration models, technology integration as a process, and mixed infographics on technology integration. Additionally, the infographics that students designed about ICT teachers’ roles in the technology integration process were categorized under 3 groups which were namely the required competencies of ICT teachers, ICT teachers’ roles from the perspectives of different actors, and ICT teachers’ roles in terms of grouping. Recommendations regarding with how to develop prospective teachers’ perceptions on technology integration and their roles in this process were proposed based on the research results
Analysis of gap-coupled microstrip antenna

In the present paper the analysis of a gap-coupled microstrip antenna (GCMSA) is carried out using the circuit concept and consequently various parameters such as input impedance, VSWR and return-loss are investigated for different air gap lengths. It is observed that the resonant frequency of the antenna with different substrates depends on the gap length. The gap-coupled antenna behaves as an RL network below the resonant frequency for all substrate materials and gap lengths, whereas the antenna behaviour above resonance is like an RC network. It is further observed that the resonant frequency of the GCMSA decreases with increasing gap length.
An Overview of Temporary Stream Hydrology in Canada

Temporary streams lack streamflow at some time in the seasonal cycle, and include ephemeral, intermittent and episodic streams. They often serve as headwaters for the perennial stream network in a drainage basin, and given that headwater streams can comprise the majority of the drainage network, temporary streams are significant hydrologic features across the country. Nevertheless, they have received relatively little attention compared to perennial streams. In addition, much previous work on temporary streams has focussed on semi-arid and arid landscapes where annual evapotranspiration exceeds annual precipitation. While such climatic conditions do control the occurrence of temporary streams in some regions in Canada, temporary streams can also occur in sub-humid and humid climates. This paper examines the major controls on the occurrence and behaviour of temporary streams at the regional and reach scales in Canada; however, where necessary we also review literature from outside Canada on aspects of temporary streams relevant to the Canadian context. The paper assesses the temporal dynamics of temporary streams, along with key aspects of their geomorphology and ecology as well as current monitoring and modelling approaches. Temporary streams are very sensitive to anthropogenic and natural activities that can modify their hydrology and hydroecology, and they deserve greater attention from the Canadian hydrological community. Improved monitoring and process studies should be pursued in Canada.
Using Feedback for Multiple Types Relays for Water Management in Wireless Sensor Networks that Support Differentiated Services

This paper focuses on applying feedback control theoretic techniques on a wireless sensor networks (WSNs) environment that is composed of: (1) Sensor nodes read information from the physical environment. (2) Collectors read and store information from sensor nodes. (3) Motes carry information from one location to another. (4) Reservoirs store messages from wireless sensor nodes to be delivered to the respective host nodes. (5) Feedback controllers with differentiated services are responsible for computing the tuning parameter based on differentiated services in order to collect information from the sensor nodes based on control law. The proposed architecture supports differentiated services to differentiate between severe scenarios for managing water. Base stations dispatches motes to sensor nodes to collect information. The work in this paper proposes a new mechanism to control the dispatching rate of differentiated relay agents for water management in WSNs environments. The new mechanism uses feedback control theoretic mechanisms to adjust the dispatching rate accurately based on emergency metrics from sensor nodes. Results show promising results using three classes of motes gold, silver and bronze types. Results show compliance with the desired references which were 90%, 60% and 30% respectively.
Safe Platooning in Automated Highway Systems Part I: Safety Regions Design

SUMMARY This paper addresses the problem of designing safe controllers for vehicle manuevering in Automated Ž. Highway Systems AHS in which traffic is organized into platoons of closely spaced vehicles. Conditions to achieve safe platooning under normal modes of operation are investigated. The notion of safety is related with the absence of collisions that exceed a given relative velocity threshold. State dependent safety regions for the platoons are designed in such a way that, whenever the state of a platoon is inside these safety regions, it is guaranteed that platoon maneuvering will be safe and follow the behavior prescribed by the finite state machines that control vehicles manuevers. It is shown that it is possible to design control laws that keep the state of the platoons inside these safety regions. The results obtained allow one to decouple the controllers for the regulation of the manuevers and the finite state machines that determine their proper sequence in AHS architectures. The overall complexity of the design and verification of the AHS as an hybrid system is therefore greatly reduced.
Standardization of Patient Handovers From the Operating Room to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Project

Standardization of Patient Handovers From the Operating Room to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Project Jacob S. Key Background: Patient handovers from operating rooms (ORs) to intensive care units (ICUs) frequently endure communication breakdowns and poor staff satisfaction when standardized handover procedures (SHPs) are not in place. Purpose: The project’s purpose was to assess the impact of a SHP checklist on OR to surgical ICU (SICU) handover staff satisfaction and perceptions regarding the patient handover process at a Level 1-designated trauma academic hospital. Interventions: Preand post-project staff satisfaction surveys were conducted after four months of SHP checklist introduction and utilization. Methods: SHP checklist and survey formation were based on similar quality improvement (QI) project designs revealed during a comprehensive literature review. Surgeons, anesthesia providers, and ICU nurses were asked to complete surveys. Forty-five handovers using the developed SHP were utilized to fulfill sample size requirements. Statistical analyses were performed to compare preand post-implementation survey scores. Results: The project entailed 45 handovers utilizing the SHP checklist over two months in addition to 52 and 47 surveys submitted by handover staff one month before and after project execution, respectively. Each of the three services’ pre-survey and post-survey resultant mean comparisons revealed two questions with statistically significant findings. Conclusion: After implementation of a SHP checklist, SICU RNs, anesthesia providers, and surgery team members conveyed increased satisfaction with the overall handover process, patient information communicated during handovers, reduced distractions, and increased staff presence although checklist usage was inconsistent. iii Table of
Relation usinabilité–topographie de la surface usinée. Analyse conventionnelle et par la théorie du chaos

Cet article propose d'analyser l'usinabilite en tournage d'un acier martensitique en fonction de la vitesse de coupe par observation topographique de la surface. Nous decrivons d'abord une methodologie pour chercher le parametre de rugosite le plus pertinent afin de caracteriser l'influence de la vitesse de coupe sur la topographie de la surface obtenue. La moyenne des pentes du profil permet d'estimer une vitesse critique qui correspond a une transition de regime dans le mode d'usinage. Elle met egalement en evidence l'influence de la vitesse de coupe a l'interieur de chacun de ces deux regimes, ce qu'un critere plus conventionnel tel que le Ra ne permet pas de differencier. Dans une deuxieme partie de cette etude, l'usinabilite est analysee en utilisant la theorie du chaos. Partant de la topographie de la surface usinee, nous developpons une methode originale pour construire un attracteur qui s'avere etre bidimensionnel. La construction de cet attracteur resulte de deux fonctions : la premiere caracterise l'effet de l'ecrouissage du a la coupe et la seconde l'effet de l'adoucissement thermique. A basse vitesse de coupe, ces deux mecanismes deviennent intimement lies et l'attracteur possede un point fixe : la coupe s'effectue par ecrouissage generalise. Au-dela d'une vitesse critique, l'attracteur presente deux etats indiquant l'apparition d'une instabilite de coupe. Deux regimes se succedent : l'ecrouissage par cisaillement localise puis l'adoucissement cause par l'elevation de temperature. Cette instabilite est confirmee par une augmentation de la dimension fractale avec la vitesse de coupe du profil reconstruit d'apres l'attracteur.
Improving the Representation of Whitecap Fraction and Sea Salt Aerosol Emissions in the ECMWF IFS-AER

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) operates the Integrated Forecasting System aerosol module (IFS-AER) to provide daily global analysis and forecast of aerosols for the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). New estimates of sea salt aerosol emissions have been implemented in the IFS-AER using a new parameterization of whitecap fraction as a function of wind speed and sea surface temperature. The effect of whitecap fraction simulated by old and new parameterizations has been evaluated by comparing the IFS-AER new sea salt aerosol characteristics to those of aerosol retrievals. The new parameterization brought a significant improvement as compared to the two parameterizations of sea salt aerosol emissions previously implemented in the IFS-AER. Likewise, the simulated sea salt aerosol optical depth and surface concentration are significantly improved, as compared against ground and remote sensing products.
Determinants and Dynamic Changes of Generic Quality of Life in Human Bladder Cancer Patients

We measured and determined the factors associated with long-term generic quality-of-life (QOL) changes in human bladder cancer patients. We utilized the World Health Organization QOL-Brief questionnaire to assess consecutive patients’ QOL at outpatient clinics of our hospital. A mixed-effects model was constructed to investigate the determinants of QOL changes according to each domain and individual item after controlling for demographic and clinical factors, as well as the effect of radical cystectomy. We also applied a kernel smoothing method to describe the long-term dynamic changes after the first definite treatment. In total, 1185 repeated measurements were collected from 343 bladder cancer patients. The mixed-effects models demonstrated that marital status, monthly income, and comorbidity with heart disease and diabetes were significant determinants among all the study participants. Regardless of the urinary diversion type, radical cystectomy contributed to lower scores for all four domains, mainly from 4–5 years after cystectomy, which declined significantly in patients who were older than 60 years. As for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients with preserved bladders, tumor recurrence was a major predictor for lower scores for sexual activity in the social domain. In summary, generic QOL can be independently influenced by many factors, not only cystectomy and tumor recurrence, which should be discussed with patients before treatment.
Trajectory Tracking of Series Elastic Actuators Using Terminal Sliding Mode Control *

In this paper, a continuous-time state-feedback control scheme is proposed by using a new form of adaptive terminal sliding mode for the trajectory tracking control problem of robot manipulators driven by a series elastic actuator. By applying a conditional integral sliding mode surface and online adaptive law for disturbance boundary identification, a terminal sliding mode controller is developed. The robustness of the developed controller is established by the Lyapunov stability theory. A key feature of the proposed controller is the use of varying boundary layers for solving the chattering problem. An application and experimental verification to a series elastic actuator is provided to demonstrate the control effectiveness and significant performance improvements compared with the conventional PID controller.
Strain-engineering in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs: impact of silicon nitride passivation layer on electrical performance

In this work, we present a physics-based analysis of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) sheet carrier density and other microwave characteristics such as transconductance and cutoff frequency of AlxGa1−xN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMT). An accurate polarization-dependent charge control-based analysis is performed for microwave performance assessment in terms of current, transconductance, gate capacitances, and cutoff frequency of lattice-mismatched AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. The influence of stress on spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization is included in the simulation of an AlGaN/GaN HEMT. We have shown the change in threshold voltage (Vt) due to tensile and compressive strain with different gate lengths. Also, the influence of stress due to the change in nitride thickness is presented. Our simulation results for drain current, transconductance, and current-gain cutoff frequency for various gate length devices are calibrated and verified with experimental data over a wide range of gate and drain applied voltages, which are expected to be useful for microwave circuit design. The predicted transconductance, drain conductance, and operation frequency are quite close to the experimental data. The AlGaN/GaN heterostructure HEMTs with nitride passivation layers show great promise as a candidate in future high speed and high power applications.
Self-adapting traffic flow status forecasts using clustering

A key problem for the efficient use of stationary traffic prediction models is that for adaptation to new data they require human-made re-calibration with a new database. So far, there has been a lack of knowledge of how to develop a practical prediction model that would learn while working online. Anyone providing real-time traffic information and making forecasts of the traffic situation could benefit from such models. The aim of the study is to develop a method to make a self-adapting short-term prediction model for the status of traffic flow. The principles for such a model are described. The method is based on self-organising map and the model is implemented on a highway in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Specifically, the structure of the model makes it possible for the model to learn by itself without the need to save all the data into databases. Consequently, long-term online use of the model makes fewer demands on computers. The results indicated that the self-adapting principle improved the performance of the model. The principles of the model can also be applied in other locations.