Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Incision Patterns Based on Visual Tracking of Surgical Tools in Minimally Invasive Surgery

In minimally invasive surgery, the positions of surgical tools are important in multiple instruments set-up and procedures. Typically, each surgery requires 4–5 incision holes and for each specific procedure, the layout of points defines specific pattern. Taking advantage of this possible one-to-one relationship between a specific procedure in minimally invasive surgery and the incision patterns, such patterns can be utilized in tele-monitoring of trainee during an emulated surgical operation. For example, in performance evaluation of trainee, this procedure would automatically estimate and verify the initial incision pattern to that of the predefined expected template associated with a particular surgical procedure. In this paper, we propose and analyze two models, based on color and shape respectively, to reconstruct the pattern. Both approaches use image information only to reconstruct the incision patterns in three dimensional space. The challenge of monocular endoscopic view is the lack of depth perception which hindered the vision-based tracking of laparoscopic tools. To address the problem, we present a method to determine not only the spatial tip position of the surgical tools, but also their orientation with respect to the camera coordinate frame. Detailed formulation shows that how segmented tool edges and camera field of view localize the 3D orientations of tools. Then, 3D position of the tool tip is reconstructed using either color or edge detection method. Finally, the orientations and the position of tool tips uniquely determine the poses of the tools. From above procedures, geometrical models of cylindrical tools can be constructed in each sequence of mono-camera images. To further use the tracking result in order to localize the incision point, we computed the vectors of the cylindrical tool center lines at multiple poses at number of frames. Extracted incision point is further analyzed as a recognition pattern to map into the patients’ pre-operative incision procedure. Accuracy of 3D tool pose estimation and incision pattern is evaluated in real image sequences with known ground truth.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Investigation of Transmission Line Models for Switching Overvoltages Studies

Abstract Overvoltages caused by switching operation of power system equipments might damage some equipment and delay power system restoration. This paper presents a comparison between transmission line (TL) models for overvoltages study and investigates which TL model is most proper for every case study. Both simulation time and accuracy factors of TL models are considered for selecting best TL model. Various cases of switching of transformer, shunt reactor, capacitor bank, and transmission line are investigated and simulation results for a partial of 39-bus New England test system, ‎show that the proposed TL model evaluation increase accuracy and reduce simulation time (accelerate power system restoration) properly.
Transcutaneous application of ultrasound enhances the effects of finasteride in a murine model of androgenic alopecia

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate if transcutaneous application of low-intensity ultrasound can locally enhance the effects of finasteride on hair growth in a murine model of androgenic alopecia (AA). Methods AA mice (injected twice per week with testosterone enanthate, n=11), under daily oral administration of finasteride, received 1-MHz ultrasound for 1 hour at the unilateral thigh area five times per week for 5 weeks. Non-thermal and non-cavitational ultrasound was delivered in a pulsed manner (55-ms pulse duration with a repetition frequency of 4 Hz). Skin temperature was measured during sonication, and the measurements were validated with numerical simulations of sonication-induced tissue temperature changes. Hair growth was assessed both photographically and histologically. Results We found more hair growth on the sonicated thigh area than on the unsonicated thigh, beginning from week 3 through the end of the experiment. Histological analyses showed that the number of hair follicles doubled in the skin sections that received sonication compared to the unsonicated zone, with thicker follicular diameter and skin. An over five-fold increase was also observed in the anagen/telogen ratio in the sonicated area, suggesting an enhanced anagen phase. Skin temperature was unaltered by the administered sonication. Conclusion The findings of the present study suggest that pulsed application of ultrasound promotes hair growth, potentially by disrupting the binding of albumin to finasteride. This may suggest further applications to enhance the pharmacological effects of other relevant drugs exhibiting high plasma protein binding.
Fabrication of TiNi thin film stents

Superelastic shape memory materials are of special interest in medical applications due to the large strains obtainable, the constant stress level and their biocompatibility. TiNi sputtered tubes have high potential for application as vascular implants, e.g. stents. Magnetron sputtering, three-dimensional lithography and wet etching were used in order to produce stent devices, with thickness from 5 to 15 µm, diameter from 1 to 5 mm and minimum feature size of 5 µm.
Menu Audit of Vegetable-Containing Food Offering in Primary School Canteens in Sydney, Australia: A Preliminary Study

Children’s vegetable intakes are too low, and school canteens could provide an equitable environment to improve their intake. This study aimed to develop and apply a systematic method to quantify the proportion and variety of vegetable-containing items on primary school canteen menus and examine differences between schools of different socio-economic statuses, sizes and types. Online canteen menus from 112 primary schools in Sydney, Australia, were collected, and data were extracted on a total number of items and vegetable-containing items across different menu categories. Further, data on preparation type and variety were extracted. Differences in the proportion of vegetable items between socio-economic status, school size and type were tested. On average, 80.4 ± 34.0 items were listed, with 30% of items containing vegetables. Most sandwiches (60%) and hot foods (54%) contained no vegetables. The variety of raw vegetables (4.9 ± 1.8 types) was greater than for cooked vegetables (1.3 ± 1.2 types; p < 0.01). Limited differences were observed by socio-economic status and school type. Small schools offered fewer vegetable-containing items than large schools. While primary school canteen menus listed a large variety of items, only one-third contained vegetables. Data from this study can be used to track changes and to develop new opportunities to increase the vegetable supply in schools.
Microbial Diversity of Ticks And A Novel Tyhpus Group Rickettsia Species ( R. bacterium Ac37b) Detected In Inner Mongolia, China

Background: Ticks are arthropods that can carry multiple pathogens and parasitize on livestock and mammals as well as on humans. Animal husbandry in Inner Mongolia, China, provides a suitable tick habitat. In this study, PacBio full-length 16S rDNA third-generation sequencing was used to analyze the diversity of microbial communities carried by ticks in different regions of Inner Mongolia. The aim of the study is to characterize the microbiome carried by ticks in different geographical locations and to provide theoretical support for regional prevention and control of pathogen populations in the future. Methods: In this study, a total of 905 Dermacentor nuttalli and 36 Ixodes persuleatus were collected from the surface of sheep in four main pasture areas in Inner Mongolia. Pooled DNA samples were prepared from three samples from each region and from each tick species. In total the microbial diversity of 12 samples was analyzed by PacBio full-length 16S rRNA third-generation sequencing, and the α and β diversity were determined. Results: The main bacterial genera we found were Rickettsia (35.27%), Ac37b (19.33%), Arsenophonus (11.21%), Candidatus Lariskella (10.84%), and Acinetobacter (7.17%). There were significant differences in the microbial composition of ticks from different regions and in different tick species. Rickettsia bellii was found in the I. persuleatus group. In addition, Anaplasma and a novel tyhpus group Rickettsia species (R. bacterium Ac37b) were found in the sample group of D. nuttalli in the city of Ordos.Conclusions: In this study, Rickettsia bellii was first found in I. persuleatus in Inner Mongolia, and a novel tyhpus group Rickettsia species (R. bacterium Ac37b) was found in D. nuttalli from the city of Ordos. Our study provides a basis for the prevention and control of tick-borne diseases through the analysis of tick microbial diversity in different regions of Inner Mongolia. Furthermore, we were able to detect a new tick-borne pathogen in D. nutalli.
ISO 14006. Experiencias previas de estudios de arquitectura que han adoptado el estándar de ecodiseño UNE 150301:2003

This paper aims to analyze the pioneer UNE 150301 standard, as well as its adoption process and its practical results in the sector of architecture studios. First, the structure, the aim and the scope of norm UNE 150301 have been analysed. Second, the standard's implementation has been examined, concluding that 73% of the companies that have obtained the certificate are architecture studios. A case study has therefore been carried out with the participation of five architecture studios pioneers. These experiences have let us know the main aspects and difficulties of the process. In conclusion, the adoption of the standard UNE 150301 can be a helpful tool in order to reduce the environmental impact of the products and obtain some competitive advantages such as cost reduction, improvement in energy efficiency of the product and a better adaptation to acts and regulations.
Robust Stabilization Control for an Electric Bicycle

Recently, bicycles have gained immense popularity because they have high mobility and are an environmentally friendly means of transport. However, many people tend to avoid riding a bicycle because it is unstable. In order to solve this problem, stabilization control for a bicycle has been investigated. The aim of this study is to improve the robustness of stabilization control. To achieve this goal, control systems that use a camber angle disturbance observer (CADO) are proposed. Two kinds of CADO are proposed in this paper, and the performance of these two observers is compared. The proposed control systems provide higher robustness than does the conventional method. The validity of the proposed methods is confirmed based on the experimental results.
A Text Mining Analysis of the Biomimetics Research Trend (2000-2010)

In recent years, much research has been devoted to the biomimetics research; however, few have deployed the study of the research trend. In fact, grasping the research trend is imperative for enterprises and researchers. The study aims at analyzing the trend change of biomimetics research from 2001 to 2010. The contribution of the study includes the following two points. First, the study has found the shift of the biomimetics research from shifts from “scaffold” and “engine” related issues to the focuses of “surface” and “structure”. Second, the study finds a new way of literature survey by using the text mining method in order to explore the trend change.
Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Based Hyperthermia as a Treatment Option in Various Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Iron oxide nanoparticle-based hyperthermia is an emerging field in cancer treatment. The hyperthermia is primarily achieved by two differing methods: magnetic fluid hyperthermia and photothermal therapy. In magnetic fluid hyperthermia, the iron oxide nanoparticles are heated by an alternating magnetic field through Brownian and Néel relaxation. In photothermal therapy, the hyperthermia is mainly generated by absorption of light, thereby converting electromagnetic waves into thermal energy. By use of iron oxide nanoparticles, this effect can be enhanced. Both methods are promising tools in cancer treatment and are, therefore, also explored for gastrointestinal malignancies. Here, we provide an extensive literature research on both therapy options for the most common gastrointestinal malignancies (esophageal, gastric and colorectal cancer, colorectal liver metastases, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocellular carcinoma and pancreatic cancer). As many of these rank in the top ten of cancer-related deaths, novel treatment strategies are urgently needed. This review describes the efforts undertaken in vitro and in vivo.
Microwave photonic filter with a tunable nonperiodic multiple passband frequency response

A microwave photonic filter that can realize a multiple nonperiodic passband frequency response is presented. It is based on stimulated Brillouin scattering in an optical fiber. The novelty of the filter is that, it has multiple passbands, which can be widely and independently tuned. The filter also has a very wide bandwidth, only limited by the system component bandwidths, as the frequency response is not periodic. Experimental results are presented demonstrating a bandpass filter with two or three widely tunable passbands. Investigations on the effects of adding or removing one passband and tuning one passband frequency to the other passbands are also presented. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1089–1092, 2015
Daylight in Office Buildings—The Users' Response

Abstract Fully glazed buildings have increased in popularity throughout the world's building sector. Office buildings are often especially designed with a high glazing ratio to fulfil representative architectural tasks. However, a high glazing ratio is also likely to result in a high solar load and glare problems, which cause an unsatisfactory working environment that can reduce employee productivity severely. Furthermore, it creates high cooling loads resulting in immense maintenance costs. Solutions provide light direction to illuminate the space naturally and shading to avoid glare as well as to reduce cooling loads. Many studies have been carried out on thermal comfort, others on lighting issues, but mostly under artificial lighting conditions or under the exclusion of sunny conditions. The performance of light directing elements under sunny conditions and the resulting lighting quality so far has not been investigated. Especially under sunny conditions, however, conflict between the use of daylight, .
Contrasting colonization patterns of black mangrove (Avicennia germinans (L.) L.) gene pools along the Mexican coasts

Historical and geological events can impact the genetic structure of species, producing signatures that vary among taxa and among gene pools within taxa. Such signatures can also be affected by local geography and tolerance to environmental conditions. However, disentangling the different drivers of population structure is often difficult. In an attempt to do so, we surveyed two independent gene pools of the same species that followed similar paths of post‐glacial colonization across contrasting landscapes and environmental conditions. We aimed to determine how these differences have affected the post‐glacial population dynamics of each gene pool.
Heterogeneous Networks for Smart Metering – Power Line and Radio Communication

In this paper, the radio wireless communication and the narrowband power line communication are analysed, simulated and experimentally verified for Smart Metering systems. This is followed by the proposal of a heterogeneous network, which consists of wireless radio transmission and narrowband power line communication (PLC). In rural and remote areas, due to the low population density and the poor familiarity with new technologies, the heterogeneous radio-PLC network offers a solution for smart grid and smart metering applications DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.eee. 21.2. 115015
Student laboratory experiments exploring optical fibre communication systems, eye diagrams, and bit error rates

Optical fibre communications has proved to be one of the key application areas, which created, and ultimately propelled the global growth of the photonics industry over the last twenty years. Consequently the teaching of the principles of optical fibre communications has become integral to many university courses covering photonics technology. However to reinforce the fundamental principles and key technical issues students examine in their lecture courses and to develop their experimental skills, it is critical that the students also obtain hands-on practical experience of photonics components, instruments and systems in an associated teaching laboratory. In recognition of this need OptoSci, in collaboration with university academics, commercially developed a fibre optic communications based educational package (ED-COM). This educator kit enables students to; investigate the characteristics of the individual communications system components (sources, transmitters, fibre, receiver), examine and interpret the overall system performance limitations imposed by attenuation and dispersion, conduct system design and performance analysis. To further enhance the experimental programme examined in the fibre optic communications kit, an extension module to ED-COM has recently been introduced examining one of the most significant performance parameters of digital communications systems, the bit error rate (BER). This add-on module, BER(COM), enables students to generate, evaluate and investigate signal quality trends by examining eye patterns, and explore the bit-rate limitations imposed on communication systems by noise, attenuation and dispersion. This paper will examine the educational objectives, background theory, and typical results for these educator kits, with particular emphasis on BER(COM).
A noise reduction technique for on-line detection and location of partial discharges in high voltage cable networks

Partial discharge (PD) measurements taken on-site are frequently affected by noise due to external disturbances. This paper describes a noise reduction method that may be used to isolate the PDs from the noise. The basic principles of wavelet de-noising analysis are presented. The PDs are then processed to allow accurate location of the PD. This method of location will also be presented.
Block diagram modeling of tall, thin parallelepiped piezoelectric structures

A model is presented for predicting the behavior of tall, thin piezoelectric transducer elements, typical of those encountered in phased or linear array assemblies. Based on a block diagram, systems feedback approach, the model is amenable to computer implementation as well as satisfying intuitive and physical constraints. The method permits a ready understanding of electrical, piezoelectric, and mechanical coupling that occurs when two, loosely coupled vibrational modes are present within a transducer structure. A range of experimental and theoretical results, including impedance and pulse‐echo characteristics, is presented for different transducer configuration ratios. Provided that the constraint of twin, compressional modes of vibration is satisfied, the model is shown to predict the principal resonance features with an accuracy ranging from 1%–5.2%.
Ultra-broadband high performance distributed Raman amplifier employing pump modulation

A novel 110 nm, ultra-broadband distributed Raman amplifier has been constructed where pumps may be modulated to reduce non-linear interactions between pump wavelengths. This gave about I dB improvement in effective noise figure for shorter signal wavelengths channels and eliminated noise from an in-band four-wave mixing product produced by beating of pump wavelengths in the low dispersion transmission fibre.
On the concept and measurement of driver drowsiness, fatigue and inattention: Implications for countermeasures

This paper focuses on the concepts of drowsiness, fatigue and inattention and the objective measurement of these processes while driving a vehicle. The major aim is to point to factors that are important in order to develop effective countermeasures against these human problems, including systems that continuously assess the driver's state and the quality of driving, which record online biobehavioural data of the driver and vehicle-based performance data. A selection of recent works on the effectiveness of the various types of countermeasures being studied is provided. Finally, problems that affect most of the research in these fields are noted.
How Quality of Work-life’s Mediating Effect of Compensation System on Teacher’s Organizational Commitment?

This study analyzes the effect of compensation system on teachers’ organizational commitment mediating by quality of work-life (QWL). The research data was collected by a questionnaire through the survey methods toward 325 teachers of a private school in Indonesia. Data analysis uses path analysis supported by descriptive statistics and correlational. The results show that compensation system had a significant effect on teachers’ organizational commitment mediating by QWL. This study also was found a fit research model can discuss among researchers and practitioners as references/discourse or a strategy for enhancing organizational commitment in various research fields and contexts.
Micro-RNA Implications in Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Literature

Type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most well-defined and complex metabolic disorders, characterized by hyperglycemia, with a constantly increasing incidence in children and adolescents. While current knowledge regarding the molecules related to the pathogenesis and diagnosis of T1DM is vast, the discovery of new molecules, such as micro ribonucleic acids (micro-RNAs, miRNAs), as well as their interactions with T1DM, has spurred novel prospects in the diagnosis of the disease. This review aims at summarizing current knowledge regarding miRNAs’ biosynthesis and action pathways and their role as gene expression regulators in T1DM. MiRNAs follow a complex biosynthesis pathway, including cleaving and transport from nucleus to cytoplasm. After assembly of their final form, they inhibit translation or cause messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation, resulting in the obstruction of protein synthesis. Many studies have reported miRNA involvement in T1DM pathogenesis, mainly through interference with pancreatic b-cell function, insulin production and secretion. They are also found to contribute to β-cell destruction, as they aid in the production of autoreactive agents. Due to their elevated accumulation in various biological specimens, as well as their involvement in T1DM pathogenesis, their role as biomarkers in early preclinical T1DM diagnosis is widely hypothesized, with future studies concerning their diagnostic value deemed a necessity.