Practical classification of different moving targets using automotive radar and deep neural networks

In this work, the authors present results for classification of different classes of targets (car, single and multiple people, bicycle) using automotive radar data and different neural networks. A fast implementation of radar algorithms for detection, tracking, and micro-Doppler extraction is proposed in conjunction with the automotive radar transceiver TEF810X and microcontroller unit SR32R274 manufactured by NXP Semiconductors. Three different types of neural networks are considered, namely a classic convolutional network, a residual network, and a combination of convolutional and recurrent network, for different classification problems across the four classes of targets recorded. Considerable accuracy (close to 100% in some cases) and low latency of the radar pre-processing prior to classification (∼0.55 s to produce a 0.5 s long spectrogram) are demonstrated in this study, and possible shortcomings and outstanding issues are discussed

An Open System for Social Computation

Part of the power of social computation comes from using the collective intelligence of humans to tame the aggregate uncertainty of (otherwise) low veracity data obtained from human and automated sources. We have witnessed a surge in development of social computing systems but, ironically, there have been few attempts to generalise across this activity so that creation of the underlying mechanisms themselves can be made more social. We describe a method for achieving this by standardising patterns of social computation via lightweight formal specifications (we call these social artifacts) that can be connected to existing internet architectures via a single model of computation. Upon this framework we build a mechanism for extracting provenance meta-data across social computations

Studies towards a fast and efficient total synthesis of LL-Z1640-2

LL-Z1640-2 (5Z-7-Oxo-zeaenol) was first isolated in 1978 from a culture broth. Although LL-Z1640-2 was initially classified as an anti-protazoan agent, it was not until 1999 that it’s cytokine release inhibiting activity was discovered. More recently LL-Z1640-2 has been reported to selectively inhibit the kinase activity of TAK1. TAK1 (transforming growth factor β-activated protein kinase 1) is a major member of the mitogen activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) family. TAK1 is responsible for the activation and control of at least three signalling pathways that play crucial roles in the inflammatory response. Hence, TAK1 has emerged as a prime target for the treatment and regulation of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease. LL-Z1640-2 is structurally related to other 14 membered resorcylic lactones such as 7-oxo-zeaenol, zeaenol and radicicol. Although there has been a significant amount of work dedicated to the synthesis of radicicol, the efforts towards LLZ1640-2 have been rather limited. At the outset of the research contained within this thesis, only two total syntheses of LL-Z1640-2 had been published. They were both lengthy (>20 steps) making them impractical for lead development. The work described in this thesis illustrates the attempted flexible and convergent synthesis of LL-Z1640-2 from the simple, commercially available, starting materials 2-deoxy-D-ribose and methyl 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoate

Field Based, Supervised Theological Education

Churches expect exceptional leadership from their pastors to lead in the ministry and mission of their local congregation. Every time a new pastor is appointed to their church, many members hold their breath, praying that their new leader will rise up to their expectations. When ministerial interns enter their first parish, they hope that their training has prepared them for the demands they know they will face in their new appointment

Mortality due to trauma in cats attending veterinary practices in central and south-east England

Objectives: To identify important demographic and spatial factors associated with the risk of trauma and, more specifically, road traffic accident‐related mortality, relative to other diagnoses in cats. Methods: A sample of 2738 cats with mortality data derived from the VetCompass primary‐care veterinary database was selected for detailed study. Generalised linear models investigated risk factors for mortality due to trauma and due to road traffic accidents versus other causes

The Existence of Sterile Neutrino Halos in Galactic Centers as an Explanation of the Black Hole mass - Velocity Dispersion Relation

If sterile neutrinos exist and form halos in galactic centers, they can give rise to observational consequences. In particular, the sterile neutrinos decay radiatively and heat up the gas in the protogalaxy to achieve hydrostatic equilibrium, and they provide the mass to form supermassive blackholes. A natural correlation between the blackhole mass and velocity dispersion thus arises $\log(M_{BH,f}/M_{\odot})=\alpha \log (\sigma /200 {\rm km s^{-1}})+ \beta$ with $\alpha \approx 4$ and $\beta \approx 8$.Comment: Accepted in Ap

Measurement of throughput variation across a large format volume-phase holographic grating

In this paper, we report measurements of diffraction efficiency and angular dispersion for a large format (~ 25 cm diameter) Volume-Phase Holographic (VPH) grating optimized for near-infrared wavelengths (0.9 ~ 1.8 μm). The aim of this experiment is to see whether optical characteristics vary significantly across the grating. We sampled three positions in the grating aperture with a separation of 5 cm between each. A 2 cm diameter beam is used to illuminate the grating. At each position, throughput and diffraction angle were measured at several wavelengths. It is found that whilst the relationship between diffraction angle and wavelength is nearly he same at the three positions, the throughputs vary by up to ~ 10% from position to position. We explore the origin of the throughput variation by comparing the data with predictions from coupled-wave analysis. We find that it can be explained by a combination of small variations over the grating aperture in gelatin depth and/or refractive index modulation amplitude, and amount of energy loss by internal absorption and/or surface reflection