Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Digitization of Museum Collections

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina Antiquities Museum (BAAM) has been involved in many digitization-related projects. Part of them were external projects where the museum played a secondary part, while in others the BAAM team was a main player. Abdelfattah analyses some of these projects and discusses the lessons learnt from each of them. He also highlights the role of museum professionals in formulating clear objectives for digitization, and the subsequent strategies formulated to achieve them. Finally, the paper presents some of the digitization advantages, opportunities, difficulties, and challenges based on the BAAM experiences.
Beliefs about COVID-19 in Canada, the U.K., and the U.S.A.: A novel test of political polarization and motivated reasoning

What are the psychological consequences of the increasingly politicized nature of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States relative to similar Western countries? In a two-wave study completed early (March) and later (December) in the pandemic, we found that polarization was greater in the U.S. (N=1,339) than in Canada (N=644) and the U.K. (N=1,283). Political conservatism in the U.S. was strongly associated with engaging in weaker mitigation behaviors, lower COVID-19 risk perceptions, greater misperceptions, and stronger vaccination hesitancy. Although there was some evidence that cognitive sophistication was associated with increased polarization in the U.S. in December (but not March), cognitive sophistication was nonetheless consistently negatively correlated with misperceptions and vaccination hesitancy across time, countries, and party lines. Furthermore, COVID-19 skepticism in the U.S. was strongly correlated with distrust in liberal-leaning mainstream news outlets and trust in conservative-leaning news outlets, suggesting that polarization may be driven by differences in information environments.
An all-optical packet header recognition scheme for self-routing packet networks

We proposed a serial-to-parallel conversion scheme for optical packet header processing. All-optical recognition of a three-bit packet header was demonstrated. The obtained parallel optical signal from the converter can be detected by low speed photodetector array, and can be used as switching control signal for the optical packet switch in a self-routing network node.
Thin film acoustic waveguides and resonators for gravimetric sensing applications in liquid

The fields of health care and environment control have an increasing demand for sensors able to detect low concentrations of specific molecules in gaseous or liquid samples. The recent introduction of microfabricated devices in these fields gave rise to sensors with attractive properties. A cutting edge technology is based on guided acoustic waves, which are perturbed by events occurring at the nanometer scale. A first part of the thesis investigates the Love mode waveguide, a versatile structure in which a thin film is guiding the acoustic wave generated in a piezoelectric substrate. A systematic analysis of its sensitivity was obtained using a transmission line model generalized to discriminate the rigid or viscous nature of the probed layers. We developed a novel integrated combination of the Love mode device with a Surface Plasmon Resonance optical sensor to quantify the thickness and the composition of soft layers. The electromagnetic interferences in the recorded signal were modeled to determine the phase velocity in the sensing area and to provide new mechanisms for an enhanced sensitivity. The experimental aspects of this work deal with the fabrication, the important issue of the packaging and the sensitivity calibration of the Love mode biosensor. A second part of the thesis investigates nanocrystalline diamond under the form of a thin film membrane suspended to a rigid silicon frame. The high mechanical and chemical resistance of nanocrystalline diamond, close to single-crystal diamond, open ways to membrane based acoustic sensors such as Flexural Plate Wave and thin Film Bulk Acoustic Resonators (FBAR). A novel dynamic characterization of the thin film is reported and the properties of composite FBAR devices including a diamond thin film membrane and a piezoelectric aluminum nitride layer are assessed using the perturbation theory. This study is applied to evaluate the high sensing potential of the first prototype of an actual diamond-based composite FBAR.
Space charge formation in silicone rubber

Dependence of space charge distribution on voltage m application time is observed by pulsed electro-acoustic method in silicone rubber sample. Aluminum and copper are used as lower and upper electrodes, and a dc electric stress of 5-70 kV/mm is applied. Test results show that the primary space charges in samples are heteropolar under low and high electric stress, but the space charges inside silicone rubber adjacent copper electrode may change to homopolar charges under medium electric stress, originated from injected and migrated charges. The heteropolar charges inside silicone rubber adjacent aluminum electrode distribute in a wider scope under low stresses. The polarity of space charges in middle of sample depends on the polarity of aluminum electrode under high stress. An unstable phenomenon of space charges appears under electric stress of 70 kV/mm. It can be assumed as an indication of dielectric breakdown. The formation of charges is analyzed.
Study of oxide breakdown under very low electric field

We have performed TDDB measurements at temperatures lower than 125/spl deg/C in an electric field (E/sub ox/) range of 7-13.5 MV/cm and have evaluated the intrinsic lifetime in a wide electric field range, using both area and temperature dependences of oxide lifetime. For positive gate bias, log(t/sub BD/) of 7.1 and 9.6 nm oxides is not proportional to the electric field but is proportional to 1/E/sub ox/. This suggests that the breakdown mechanism of 9.6 nm oxide is the same as that of 7.1 nm oxide and adheres to the anode hole injection model. However, the breakdown mechanism of 4.0 nm oxide is not the same as that of 7.1 and 9.6 nm oxides. The slope of the log(t/sub BD/) versus 1/E/sub ox/ plot in 4.0 nm oxide increases with a decrease in the oxide field. The intrinsic lifetime under positive gate bias decreases with increasing oxide thickness, while the lifetime under negative gate bias increases with increasing oxide thickness in the range of electric fields employed in this experiment.
Analysis of Conformal Antennas and Periodic Structures

In the last decades much attention has been paid to the design of high-performance antennas. Accurate control of the radiation properties is very important in electromagnetic engineering applications. To this end there is a need to develop numerical techniques able to predict in detail the radiation and scattering performance of microwave antennas on planar and curved surfaces. This thesis deals with the analysis of planar and circular cylindrical multilayer structures such as loaded dielectric slabs, corrugated surfaces, frequency selective surfaces and microstrip patches for conformal arrays. The thesis consists of fifteen papers: two published journal articles, ten conference papers, two submitted journal articles and a technical report. Soft surfaces exhibit polarization independent boundary conditions. Because of this property, they can be used in the design of high-performance antennas to minimize undesired radiation effects and to reduce scattering from supporting structures of antennas. Two different applications of soft surfaces are investigated numerically. The Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method is applied for the analysis of the scattering properties of a monopole antenna on a circular, dielectric-loaded ground plane and the Method of Moments (MoM) is used to investigate and optimize a dual-frequency (S/X-band) corrugated horn. Arrays of periodically spaced conducting elements are often used as filters for microwave applications and are referred to as Frequency Selective Surfaces(FSSs). We have developed algorithms and software for studying the scattering from singly and double periodic surfaces placed either in free space or above a multilayer structure. Both planar and circular cylindrical structures are treated. A spectral domain technique together with the method of moments is used for the analysis. Microstrip antennas are often used in conformal arrays because of their ability to conform to non-planar structures. Algorithms and software have been developed for analyzing different configurations of rectangular microstrip patch antenna arrays, placed on a multilayer circular cylinder. The methods are based on a spectral domain approach and the method of moments. Input impedance, mutual coupling and radiation patterns are calculated and results are validated against measurements on an experimental model.
The Alcyone CZT SPECT camera. Evaluation of performance using phantom measurement and Monte Carlo simulations

Background Coronary artery disease is one of the most common causes of death. A common cardiac examination is to give a visualization of the myocardial blood flow by injecting a radio pharmaceutical and detect the radiation with a camera. The camera has for decades been using thallium doped sodium iodide (NaI(Tl)) as the detector material. New detector materials have been developed because of the physical limits of the NaI(Tl). The new clinically available material is cadmium-zinc-telluride. One manufacturer has placed 19 detector panels with pinhole collimators sharing a common focal point. This camera is relatively new on the market and not thoroughly investigated. Purpose It has been investigated if the image quality could be improved with a narrower energy window, the sensitivity and spatial resolution within the field of view (FOV), whether the image was affected by different source locations was investigated. Finally the detection limit for heart defects in a physical phantom and in XCAT phantom was found. Material & method A list mode acquisition was performed with a Data Spectrum phantom with a cardiac insert containing a basal defect, which simulated a myocardial infarction. The energy window was changed from ±10% to ±5% and the acquisition time was changed acquire the same statistics. The resolution was determined by fitting a Gaussian curve to a line source measurement. The detector specific sensitivity and the sensitivity in the reconstructed images were measured by using a spot marker at different positions. The positioning effect were investigated by placing the Data Spectrum phantom with a cardiac insert without any defects at different positions, the measurements were also performed on a patient. The defect limit was investigated by simulating defects with different positions and wall thickness in a voxel based, CT-scanned, anthropomorphic phantom and a XCAT phantom using a verified Monte Carlo software. Results It was found that a reduction in energy window did not improve image quality and the acquisition time or activity had to be increased 25% in order to compensate of the loss of counts. The spatial resolution was unchanged over the investigated area. The detector specific sensitivity varied up to a factor 2 with the source position, but the sensitivity in the reconstructed images varied only 4%. A translation of 2 cm of the patient gives rise to positioning effect which are great enough to possibly change the diagnosis. The detection limit for defects in the anthropomorphic phantom was determined to be between 15% and 30% of the wall thickness. For the NaI(Tl) camera the detection limit have been found to be 50%. The detection limit for the XCAT phantom was not found.
Pricing game of two substitutable products supply chains under centralized and decentralized decisions

This article considers the pricing game of two supply chains which compete in the market with two substitutable products in a fuzzy environment. The two substitutable products supply chains are either centralized, i.e. manufacturers sell their own products, or they are decentralized where manufacturers sell their products to the market through retailers. By using game and fuzzy set theories, two pricing game models are established and the corresponding optimal pricing strategies in closed form are also given. At last, some managerial analyses are given by numerical approach.
Magnetic Field Aided Indoor Navigation

Abstract : Many current aiding methods do not work well in an indoor environment, like aiding using the Global Positioning System. The method presented in this research uses magnetic field intensity data from a three-axis magnetometer in order to estimate position using a maximum - likelihood approach. The position measurements are then combined with a motion model using a Kalman filter. The magnetic field navigation algorithm is tested using a combination of simulated and real measurements. The result of these tests show that the position aiding algorithm is capable of generating positon estimates from real data within less than 1 meter of the true trajectory, with most estimates . 3 meters away from the true trajectory in a laboratory hallway environment. To further explore the capabilities of the position aiding algorithm, a leader-follower scenario is implemented. In this scenario, the follower uses magnetic field intensity data collected by the leader to estimate its current position and attempt to follow the leader? s trajectory. The results show that tracking is possible, and that the measurement span of the leader has a large impact on the result.
Historical overview of phased array antennas for defense application in Japan

In this paper, we introduce the research activities on phased array antennas over past two decades in the Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) of the Japan Defense Agency. Then, we present several examples of the applications of phased array antennas to radar systems by Japan Self Defense forces. The introduction of the research activities includes the development of transmitting and receiving modules for active phased array antennas, the engineering models of array antennas and current efforts on the phased array antennas such as conformal antennas and millimeter wave phased array antennas.
Can the DREEM scale be adapted to the medical simulation environment?

Background The environment of medical simulation is a specific educational environment for teaching medicine. Medical universities are obliged to ensure appropriate conditions for conducting classes in medical simulation. In order to improve the quality of courses in simulation, it is necessary to get to know the educational environment and the medical simulation environment. It will be possible thanks to appropriately selected methods, which include important variables shaping these environments.MethodsAmong 312 medical students who had classes in medical simulation, the DREEM method (Roff et al.) and the QuESST method (Mamcarz et al.) were applied.Results The process of adapting the DREEM tool to Polish conditions and the construction stages of the QuESST tool were presented. The overall results of the QuESST and DREEM questionnaires correlated significantly. Also the overall result of QuESST correlated significantly with the results of individual DREEM scales.Conclusions The presented tools may be helpful in determining the educational conditions and conditions of medical simulation as a specific educational environment for teaching and learning medicine.
A multi-channel processing approach to real time network detection, phase association, and threshold monitoring

Abstract This paper presents an approach to multi-channel processing of data recorded by a network of stations which represents an extension of the delay-and-sum beamforming traditionally applied in array processing. A number of geographical beam-steering points are defined, and for each beam a set of time-aligned traces derived from the network stations are processed together so as to extract, for each step in time, a set of features corresponding to that particular beam. Applying this approach to the network of the three regional arrays, NORESS, ARCESS, and FINESA, in Fennoscandia, we demonstrate its usefulness for associating regional phases detected at individual arrays and originating from the same event. We also address the problem of using a network to continously monitor the seismic noise field. The purpose here is to determine to what extent interfering events affect the monitoring of events within a target region. In this regard, we show that one can obtain, at a given confidence level, a continuous assessment of the upper limit of magnitudes of seismic events in the target region that would go undetected by such a network.
Characteristic analysis and fault-tolerant control of modular multilevel converters under sub-module faults

Summary This paper analyzes the operation characteristics of the modular multilevel converter when the arms are asymmetrical with different sub-module number caused by sub-module faults. The research reveals the problems caused by asymmetrical arms, including the asymmetrical capacitor voltages, the asymmetrical direct current (dc) components of the arm currents, the asymmetrical circulating currents, the dc current fluctuation, and the voltage offset at the dc or alternating current (ac) side. Then, it is demonstrated by the theoretical analysis that the series of problems can be solved by rebalancing the fundamental frequency components of the upper arm voltage and the lower arm voltage. Therefore, a fault-tolerant control strategy is proposed by introducing a fundamental frequency resonant controller to the traditional second-order frequency proportional resonant circulating current controller. Besides, the research shows that the coordination of the proposed control strategy and the negative sequence current suppressing control can keep the output voltages of the three phases balanced. A 201-level modular multilevel converter–high-voltage direct current time-domain simulation model is established based on PSCAD/EMTDC, and the simulation studies confirm the efficiency of the proposed controller under balanced and unbalanced ac grid conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design of a neural-fuzzy controller based on fuzzy differential competitive learning

In this paper, a novel neural-fuzzy controller based on fuzzy differential competitive learning is proposed. Since one of the most important parts is the generation of the fuzzy rules in the design of the fuzzy control system, a fast learning algorithm, fuzzy differential competitive learning (FDCL), for the generation of the rules is applied in the fuzzy control system. The FDCL algorithm adopts a principle of learn according to how well it wins. Unlike the previous competitive learning algorithm such as crisp competitive learning algorithms where only one neuron will win and learn at each competition step every neuron in the neural network based on FDCL algorithm will along with its different distance to the input pattern and learns the pattern accordingly. Compared with the ordinary competitive learning algorithm the proposed FDCL algorithm has the various distinguishing features. The FDCL algorithm is implanted in the neural network based fuzzy system and the network adopted is fuzzy associative memory system (FAMS) which simulates the knowledge representation and inference process by using fuzzy notation and by association in neural networks. In FAMS the fuzzy rules will be generated by clustering the input-output training data through the FDCL paradigm. By using the FDCL algorithm the neural network can highly refine knowledge and represent the expert experience.
Optimal waveforms and processing for sparse frequency UWB operation

Spectrum notching on transmit is crucial to the deployment of UWB FOPEN SAR radars. However, it results in high peak and integrated sidelobes, which translate to loss in received image quality. In order to recover the image quality, we "fill-in" the effects of the frequency notches using the Burg algorithm, before the final image formation.
Based on Phase-Locked Loop the ADF4350 Filter Design

Based on the basic principle of the phase locked loop, analyzes the structural characteristics of the loop filter technology and ADF4350; secondly, design and analysis of two order passive low pass filter, three order passive low pass filter, two order active low-pass filter, with parameters such as bandwidth, phase margin ADF4350 PLL, selection the loop filter is suitable for the actual situation; using ADIsimPLL software to determine the parameters and realize the optimization of S parameters on circuit simulation, optimized and then use ADS software to observe. Finally, according to the results of analysis to adapt to the situation three kinds of filter structure of ADF4350phase locked loop.
An Application of a Job Exposure Profile in Work-related Shoulder Disorders Study

This study aimed at presenting a method that creates an exposure profile for a combined physical exposure of forceful exertions and work postures. Hand/wrist work posture and forceful exertion data were collected simultaneously through observations from recorded videos from a total of 733 subjects from 12 different workplaces. Combined exposures of the forceful hand exertion and hand/wrist postures were grouped into 32 categories (5 types of forceful exertion each with 3 levels and one exertion category of no forceful exertion, and two categories of wrist flexion/extension postures, (i.e. 5x3+1)x2) = 32). Distributions of the combined exposures were then calculated for each of the subjects. An Exposure Profile Index (EPI) was created by assigning different weights on each of the 32 combined exposure categories. Distribution of the EPI for the eligible 716 subjects was calculated. Logistic regression was performed adjusting for age and gender for the EPI to calculate the odds ratios of being a clinical shoulder case. Clinical shoulder cases were determined by workers’ self-reports and physical examinations performed by a physician.
Lung segmentation from HRCT using united geometric active contours

Accurate lung segmentation from high resolution CT images is a challenging task due to various detail tracheal structures, missing boundary segments and complex lung anatomy. One popular method is based on gray-level threshold, however its results are usually rough. A united geometric active contours model based on level set is proposed for lung segmentation in this paper. Particularly, this method combines local boundary information and region statistical-based model synchronously: 1) Boundary term ensures the integrality of lung tissue.2) Region term makes the level set function evolve with global characteristic and independent on initial settings. A penalizing energy term is introduced into the model, which forces the level set function evolving without re-initialization. The method is found to be much more efficient in lung segmentation than other methods that are only based on boundary or region. Results are shown by 3D lung surface reconstruction, which indicates that the method will play an important role in the design of computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) system.
Stage positioning based on improved feedback error learning and its experimental verification

In this paper, the position control of a linear stage is considered. To improve the settling time of the positioning, the parameters of the feedforward controller are automatically tuned by using feedback error learning (FEL). In the proposed FEL, true value of the estimated parameters is small, and the number of the estimated parameters is reduced. It leads to the improvement of the learning time. Moreover, to compensate for effects of non-parallel guide rails, the disturbance observer is also utilised. By using the observer, the performance of the positioning can be maintained regardless of the initial position of the stage. Experimental results show the effectiveness of our control method.