Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Segmentation of Optic Disc from Fundus Images

Optic disc (OD) segmentation is an essential step for automated detection of various serious ophthalmic pathologies related to diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, exudates detection is our major purpose, but we must extract the OD prior to the process because it appears with similar color, intensity and contrast to other characteristics of the retinal image. The retinal image consists of blood vessels that emerge from the OD. This paper presents a novel method for segmentation of the OD in retinal images. The methodology includes localization of OD center, followed by elimination of vascular structure using vesselness filter. Finally, an active contour model was applied to boundary OD segmentation. The results are compared with a ground truth image from the ophthalmologist. The source retinal image for performing this work is obtained from the publicly available DRIVE and MESSIDOR database. This method offers a successful segmentation of OD which may help in diagnosis of various retinal abnormalities.
The potential of microblogs for the study of public perceptions of climate change

Microblogs are electronic platforms that convey brief communications posted by users. Keyword searches in popular microblogs, like Twitter, reveal fragments of users' knowledge of and views on issues like climate change. Evaluations of climate change communications in the microblogosphere are rare even compared with the few studies on the impacts of Web sites and blogs on users' perceptions of climate change. However, extant research focuses more often on appraising logic and evidence in microblog discourse than in discovering pathways of influence and impact. The limiting ‘frames’ imposed by strategic users of microblogs and the persuasive power of ‘influencers’ are often depicted as interfering with the open, egalitarian potential of microblogs, and also, as perpetrating bias and misinformation. But oversimplifying or biased framings and pronouncements by celebrities are the stock and trade of microblogs. Good or bad, they are part of a communication medium whose users plunge in to exchange views, to persuade, and to be persuaded. Tweets and posts on any number of issues are fodder for attitudinal analytics and predictive modelling. Tools of the analytical trade should be applied to climate change microblogging, too, considering the sheer number of people who post commentary on this topic, and considering the continuing need to better understand how people view and engage with climate change.
Thermal design of a magnet-free axial-flux switch reluctance motor for automotive applications

With the requirement to develop magnet-free motors for automotive application, more design effort is needed for thermal design as the machine temperature limits the motor performance. Thermal design procedure of automotive motor has to fully exploit the modern approaches in electrical machine thermal analysis in terms of accuracy and solving time. This paper proposes a computational-cost-effective way to obtain the optimum thermal design of an axial-flux switched reluctance motor by means of lumped circuit methods with some inputs from Computational Fluid Dynamic simulations.
CRUSTAL STRUCTURE UNDER HUDSON BAY

A crystal refraction experiment was conducted in August 1965 in Hudson Bay in which nine university and government crews participated. Good quality data were obtained from 41 shots providing sufficient data to permit time-term analyses of both Pn and P1 arrivals. No consistent intermediate arrivals were identified leading to the consideration of a two-layer crustal model. Pn time-terms indicate that the depth of the Mohorovicic discontinuity is between 26 and 41 km.
Flood Nonstationarity in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions of the United States

AbstractA case study examining aspects of nonstationarity in the estimation of flood magnitudes in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic United States is presented here. The focus is on challenges posed by changes in the number and location of stream gauges over time to assess climate variability and land-use land-cover (LULC) change impacts. The study shows that statistical outliers are spatially aligned with LULC change from urbanization independently of time period and record length across the region with substantial increases (>30%) in the magnitude of the 25-year and 100-year events since 1950. Large amplification (>10) of the ratio of flood magnitude to the mean annual flood was detected in expanding urban areas, but only systematically for the 100-year event, suggesting that existing infrastructure constrains the sensitivity of flood response for events below applied engineering design criteria. Overall, annual streamflows do not exhibit statistically significant trends (98% cfl), except for positive tren.
A new look at early bivalve phylogeny

Abstract In the 30 years since publication of the bivalve Treatise, (Moore, R. C. (ed.) 1969. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Part N. Mollusca 6, Bivalvia, Geological Society of America and University of Kansas) important new faunas have been described from the early and mid Cambrian and from the early and mid Ordovician. These contain significant new forms, including some long-ranging intermediate groups, that indicate the relationships between the principal bivalve clades, but lack of fossils from the late Cambrian and earliest Ordovician is a major hindrance. The principal phase of bivalve diversification followed on from the evolution of the filibranch gill in the latest Cambrian or earliest Ordovician. The fundamental division of the class is into two subclasses, Protobranchia and Autolamelli branchiata; links between the two can be demonstrated in the early Ordovician. Major divisions of each subclass are recognized as superorders. Within the Protobranchia, the Nuculoida developed specialist food-gathering palps and an enlarged foot. Diverging early from the protobranch stock were other bivalves that lived symbiotically with sulphur-oxidizing chemoautotrophic bacteria; this allowed colonization of anaerobic substrates and produced two distinct stocks: the deeply infaunal anteriorly elongate Solemyoida and the shallower infaunal Nucinelloida. The Autolamellibranchiata, initially identified by strongly asymmetrical hinges, diversified in three directions, each characterized by distinctive hinges. The Trigonioida were characterized by ligamental nymphs and frequently denticulate teeth, and rapidly regained greater symmetry; the Anomalodesmata also developed a strong ligamental insertion within nymphs and largely lost their dentition, whilst the Heteroconchia, principally with a shell including a complex crossed-lamellar structure, had various combinations of cardinal and lateral teeth. Heteroconch diversifications were mainly in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, but one Ordovician group, the Glyptarcoidea, is a good ancestor for the Pteriomorphia. The following new taxa are proposed: Cardiolarioidea superfam. nov., Eritropidae fam. nov. and Catamarcaidae fam. nov.
Computing the half-plane pull-in range of a PLL

A second-order PLL based on a triangular-characteristic phase detector and lead-lag loop filter is found in many applications where simplicity and economics are important. For these loops, the half-plane pull-in range Ω2 is of interest. In the existing literature, an algorithm is described for approximating Ω2; it requires the numerical integration of the nonlinear differential equation that describes the PLL. This numerical integration requirement is removed here by the development of an exact formula for Ω2.
Contactless Planar Actuator With Manipulator: A Motion System Without Cables and Physical Contact Between the Mover and the Fixed World

In this paper, a novel motion system is presented that provides completely contactless operation from the fixed world. It consists of a contactless planar actuator with 6-DOF and long-stroke movement in the x-y plane, with a 2-DOF manipulator on top of the floating platform. The contactless energy transfer (100 W continuous) to the moving platform for operating manipulator is integrated into the magnetic suspension. The manipulator is controlled by a controller on the fixed world with a low-latency wireless link based on a custom protocol (< 400-mus additional closed-loop delay). The behavior of the system is demonstrated with measurements of the experimental setup.
Implementation of phase gradient autofocus algorithm for spotlight SAR

The phase gradient autofocus (PGA) technique is used for automatic estimation and correction of phase errors in spotlight mode synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. This paper presents an overview of the PGA algorithm in iterative and non-iterative versions and shows the results of implementation of this method in C language for real-time applications.
Numerical Model of an Injection-Locked Wideband Frequency Modulator for Polar Transmitters

We present a numerical model of a wideband injection-locked frequency modulator used in a polar transmitter for 3G cellular radio application. At the heart of the system is a self-injection-locked oscillator with a programmable linear tuning range of up to 200 MHz at 4-GHz oscillation frequency. The oscillator is injection locked to a time-delayed version of its resonating voltage, and its frequency is modulated by manipulating the phase and amplitude of the injected current. The model is used to study the feasibility of the proposed system by analyzing the impact of various impairments in the auxiliary injection loop on the system performance. The model is written in MATLAB/SIMULINK, and the simulation output is analyzed by a vector signal analyzer in terms of 3GPP specifications. Based on the simulation results, key specifications for individual blocks in the system are determined. The key benefits of the presented modeling methodology are simplicity, efficiency, and portability.
Mission Profile Based Power Converter Reliability Analysis in a DC Power Electronic Based Power System

This paper investigates the reliability of power electronic converters employed for different applications in a dc power system employing a mission profile based reliability approach. The power electronic converter reliability depends on its loading profile, which induces thermal stresses on the failure-prone components, hence, limiting the converter lifetime. The loading profile of different converters in a power system is relevant to the mission profiles (including environmental and operational conditions), which can be controlled by a power management strategy. Moreover, the battery converter sizing in a renewable based power system may affect the power flow through the converters, and hence, its loading profiles. Therefore, this paper studies the impact of mission profile, power management strategy, and battery converter capacity on the reliability of different converters. The obtained results are presented through numerical analysis.
Acute-Phase CD8 T Cell Responses That Select for Escape Variants Are Needed to Control Live Attenuated Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

ABSTRACT The overall CD8 T cell response to human/simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV/SIV) targets a collection of discrete epitope specificities. Some of these epitope-specific CD8 T cells emerge in the weeks and months following infection and rapidly select for sequence variants, whereas other CD8 T cell responses develop during the chronic infection phase and rarely select for sequence variants. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that acute-phase CD8 T cell responses that do not rapidly select for escape variants are unable to control viral replication in vivo as well as those that do rapidly select for escape variants. We created a derivative of live attenuated SIV (SIVmac239Δnef) in which we ablated five epitopes that elicit early CD8 T cell responses and rapidly accumulate sequence variants in SIVmac239-infected Mauritian cynomolgus macaques (MCMs) that are homozygous for the M3 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotype. This live attenuated SIV variant was called m3KOΔnef. Viremia was significantly higher in M3 homozygous MCMs infected with m3KOΔnef than in either MHC-mismatched MCMs infected with m3KOΔnef or MCMs infected with SIVmac239Δnef. Three CD8 T cell responses, including two that do not rapidly select for escape variants, predominated during early m3KOΔnef infection in the M3 homozygous MCMs, but these animals were unable to control viral replication. These results provide evidence that acute-phase CD8 T cell responses that have the potential to rapidly select for escape variants in the early phase of infection are needed to establish viral control in vivo.
The Arctic rift system and the boundary between the Eurasian and North American lithospheric plates: New insight to plate tectonic theory

The Arctic rift system includes the Mid-Arctic Gakkel Ridge, the Laptev Sea continental margin and the Moma rift. The Gakkel Ridge is the world’s slowest spreading mid-ocean ridge with spreading rates ranging from 1.2 cm/year to 0.6 cm/year in the southernmost part close to the Laptev Sea. The distinctive feature of the Gakkel Ridge consists of the butt junction with the Laptev sea passive continental margin and such type of junction has never been observed all over the world. The available geological and geophysical data allow to trace how the sea-ﬂoor spreading in the Eurasian basin transforms to the rifting on the Laptev Sea continental margin. The Moma rift as the third element of the Arctic rift system develops in the unsteady stress ﬁeld conditions. Key point to decipher the geodynamics can be obtained under the study of the recent volcanic activity of Northeast Asia. New data on the helium, strontium, and neodymium isotope systematics and new results obtained from the study of rare and rare-earth elements in lavas of Holocene volcanoes in Northeast Asia suggest that young volcanic features are an evidence of activity of a mantle plume at the earliest stage of its development. Such a geodynamic origin of volcanism is likely to control the stress pattern near the boundary between the Eurasian and North American lithospheric plates. We propose that in Northeast Asia up to now there is an unknown type of the plate boundary induced by incipient mantle plume at very beginning stage. Thus, all previous attempts to represent the boundary between the Eurasian and North American plates in linear form lose their meaning.
Rat and Drosophila Synaptotagmin 4 Have Opposite Effects during SNARE-catalyzed Membrane Fusion*

Synaptotagmins (Syt) are a large family of proteins that regulate membrane traffic in neurons and other cell types. One isoform that has received considerable attention is SYT4, with apparently contradictory reports concerning the function of this isoform in fruit flies and mice. SYT4 was reported to function as a negative regulator of neurotrophin secretion in mouse neurons and as a positive regulator of secretion of a yet to be identified growth factor from muscle cells in flies. Here, we have directly compared the biochemical and functional properties of rat and fly SYT4. We report that rat SYT4 inhibited SNARE-catalyzed membrane fusion in both the absence and presence of Ca2+. In marked contrast, fly SYT4 stimulated SNARE-mediated membrane fusion in response to Ca2+. Analysis of chimeric molecules, isolated C2 domains, and point mutants revealed that the C2B domain of the fly protein senses Ca2+ and is sufficient to stimulate fusion. Rat SYT4 was able to stimulate fusion in response to Ca2+ when the conserved Asp-to-Ser Ca2+ ligand substitution in its C2A domain was reversed. In summary, rat SYT4 serves as an inhibitory isoform, whereas fly SYT4 is a bona fide Ca2+ sensor capable of coupling Ca2+ to membrane fusion.
A Myosin IK-Abp1-PakB Circuit Acts as a Switch to Regulate Phagocytosis Efficiency

Actin dynamics and myosin contractile forces are necessary to form and close the phagocytic cup. A myosin I, MyoK, a myosin-Arp2/3 linker, Abp1, and a Rac-dependent kinase, PakB form a circuit that regulates phagocytosis. MyoK is phosphorylated by PakB and positively regulates uptake, whereas binding of Abp1 negatively regulates PakB and MyoK.
Yip1A Structures the Mammalian Endoplasmic Reticulum

Yip1A depletion leads to reorganization of the ER into stacked and concentrically whorled membranes as well as a slowing of cargo export. The network dispersal function of Yip1A depends on a conserved residue. Thus, a conserved Yip1A-mediated ER network dispersal mechanism may regulate the protein export function of the organelle.
Observational evidence of enhanced middle/upper tropospheric ozone via convective processes over the equatorial tropical Atlantic during the summer of 2006

Biomass burning in Central Africa or lightning in West Africa may serve as mechanisms to enhance tropospheric ozone (O3) during Northern Hemisphere summer (JJA) in Equatorial latitudes. During the summer of 2006, ozonesondes launched from the Ronald H. Brown research cruise in equatorial latitudes (5°N–5°S) along 23°W showed elevated concentrations of O3 in the middle and upper troposphere. The total column ozone (TCO) increased by a factor of 1.2 between Legs 1 (June 11–15) and Legs 2 (June 26–29) from 36.5 to 43.5 DU. Nearly 80% of the TCO ozone was found above 700 hPa and only 10% of the TCO was found between the surface and 850 hPa. Consequently this implies that two mechanisms are responsible for elevated O3: (1) lightning associated with organized convective systems in West Africa which produced O3 via NOX, (2) a northward transport of biomass burning constituents from central Africa over land into regions of deep convection followed by the vertical transport of O3 and O3 precursors to the middle/upper troposphere. While O3 and O3 precursors are transported directly from Central Africa to the tropical Eastern Atlantic near the surface, the stability of the atmosphere inhibits vertical transport to the free troposphere.
Adjustable Autonomy in Procedural Control for Refineries

Oil refineries provide the lifeblood for global economic health, and disruptions to their operations have major worldwide impact. We are developing a large-scale intelligent refinery control system to assist human operators in controlling refineries during abnormal situations. Based primarily on reactive and procedural approaches to intelligent behavior, the Abnormal Event Guidance and Information System (AEGIS) will interact with multiple users and thousands of refinery components to diagnose and compensate for unanticipated plant disruptions. Adjusting the autonomy of AEGIS’s behavior is a key requirement for success in the dynamic, highly-unpredictable refinery environment. This paper discusses our procedural and reactive approach to the goal-setting, planning, and plan execution components of AEGIS, and the adjustable autonomy features they support.
Bose-Einstein condensation in a gas of sodium atoms.

We have observed Bose-Einstein condensation of sodium atoms. The atoms were trapped in a novel trap that employed both magnetic and optical forces. Evaporative cooling increased the phase-space density by 6 orders of magnitude within seven seconds. Condensates contained up to 5 x 105 atoms at densities exceeding 1014 cm-3. The striking signature of Bose condensation was the sudden appearance of a bimodal velocity distribution below the critical temperature of ~2µK. The distribution consisted of an isotropic thermal distribution and an elliptical core attributed to the expansion of a dense condensate.
Statistically Downscaled Climate Change Projections for the Animas River Basin, Colorado, USA

Abstract Mountain river basins provide the majority of western North America with snowmelt runoff water resources throughout the late spring–early summer snowmelt season. However, this snowmelt water resource is extremely vulnerable to any changes in air temperature and precipitation. Studies of larger mountain river basins have projected potentially warmer and drier climates in the future, but the resolution of these studies is often incompatible with smaller basins and subsequent water resources planning. The purpose of this study was to test the potential of increasing the resolution of future climate projections by combining a series of surface and upper-level atmospheric datasets using a statistical downscaling technique and to then project how the future climate could change for a typical small snowmelt fed mountain basin in western North America, the Animas River Basin, Colorado, over the course of the 21st century. Results indicated that, in general, a warmer and drier climate may occur, with this technique more effectively capturing changes in air temperature over precipitation. With this kind of data at hand, increasing levels of sustainable water resource planning for a range of future climate scenarios may be achieved for mountain river basins of a similar scale.
EKSTRAK ETANOLIK Hedyotis corymbosa l MENURUNKAN PROLIFERASI SEL PADA KELENJAR PAYUDARA TIKUS MELALUI PENEKANAN EKSPRESI C-Myc

Kanker payudara menduduki peringkat kedua setelah kanker leher rahim yang menyerang wanita di seluruh dunia. Eksplorasi terhadap tumbuhan yang mudah ditemukan, seperti herba Hedyotis corymbosa, sebagai alternatif pengobatan kanker payudara perlu dilakukan. Dilakukan uji in vivo terhadap lima kelompok tikus Galur Sprague Dawley terdiri atas kelompok perlakuan DMBA (20 mg/kgBB), perlakuan ekstrak etanolik herba H. corymbosa (1500 mg/kgBB), perlakuan DMBA + dosis I (750 mg/kgBB), perlakuan DMBA + dosis II (1500 mg/kgBB) dan perlakuan pelarut CMC - Na 0,5%. Kelompok perlakuan DMBA, DMBA + dosis I, dan DMBA + dosis II diinduksi DMBA 10 kali selama lima minggu. Kemudian setelah diistirahatkan selama empat minggu, dilakukan pemberian ekstrak selama 10 hari. Pada akhir percobaan dilakukan pengorbanan kemudian diambil jaringan payudara untuk diamati aktivitas proliferasinya. Dilakukan pengamatan imunohistokimia terhadap protein c-Myc pada jaringan payudara. Pengamatan pada metode imunohistokimia terhadap protein c-Myc menunjukkan adanya perubahan yang positif pada kelenjar payudara kelompok perlakuan DMBA + dosis I. Hasil yang diperoleh menunjukkan bahwa ekstrak etanolik herba H. corymbosa dosis 750 mg/kgBB sudah mampu menghambat proliferasi sel kanker payudara dan tidak bersifat dose dependent. Kata kunci: kanker payudara, Hedyotis corymbosa, proliferasi sel, c-Myc
Theoretical Estimates versus Forest Water Yield

Theoretical and empirical models used to estimate the long-term water balance of small catchments are inadequate as a check on the observed water balance. Under rigorous research conditions, the observational data are accurate to about ± 13–30% of yield, while the models are accurate only to about ± 10–60% of yield. Analysis of watershed data shows that the uncertainty in any comparison of theoretical and observed values usually is much greater than the difference between the values compared. In general, such comparisons are not helpful either in confirming or challenging the accuracy of water balance measurements, or in assessing the watertightness of catchment areas.