Fast-AT: Fast Automatic Thumbnail Generation using Deep Neural Networks

Fast-AT is an automatic thumbnail generation system based on deep neural networks. It is a fully-convolutional deep neural network, which learns specific filters for thumbnails of different sizes and aspect ratios. During inference, the appropriate filter is selected depending on the dimensions of the target thumbnail. Unlike most previous work, Fast-AT does not utilize saliency but addresses the problem directly. In addition, it eliminates the need to conduct region search on the saliency map. The model generalizes to thumbnails of different sizes including those with extreme aspect ratios and can generate thumbnails in real time. A data set of more than 70,000 thumbnail annotations was collected to train Fast-AT. We show competitive results in comparison to existing techniques

The Design of a Smart Refrigerator Prototype

The technological development nowadays has enabled the use of smart appliances and machines almost everywhere. The refrigerator is considered one of the most important appliances that is being used in almost every place for the purpose of storing foods, drinks, and medicines at cold temperatures, and in a sealed place to avoid exposure. However, there are several  challenges encountered with refrigerators; like the expiration of some of the items inside the fridge, the need to know the exact count  and availability of the items, potential liquid leaks, and open fridge door. A smart refrigerator is proposed as a solution to the aforementioned problems. The proposed smart refrigerator uses a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader, the Arduino Uno microcontroller, RFID tags for all items in the fridge, a user friendly application developed using Microsoft Visual Studio, MySQL main database developed by the suppliers to store the information related to each purchased item and Phidget Interface Kit board

HPLC DETERMINATION OF PARTHENOLIDE AND APIGENIN CONTENTS VERSUS LABEL CLAIMS IN IRANIAN PRODUCTS

In this study parthenolide content of feverfew product (Tanamigraine capsule) and apigenin content of chamomile products (Chamomill drop, Kamisol solution, Prostatan drop, Prostatan tablet) were determined as effective compound by HPLC. Feverfew product was extracted by methanol/distilled de-ionized water (50: 50) and chamomile products by methanol. The HPLC operating conditions were C-18 reversed phase column (VP-ODS 250×4.6 mm, 5 mm), methanol/ distilled de-ionized water (60: 40) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 ml/min and UV detection at 214 nm for parthenolide and 2% acetic acid: acetonitril with linear program 80 to 40 % of acetic acid 2% with a flow rate of 1 ml/min and UV detection at 275nm for apigenin. The amount of parthenolide and apigenin obtained in Tanamigraine capsules and chamomile products is 0.13- 016% and 0.04- 35% respectivel

Tularemia and Plague Survey in Rodents in Earthquake Zones in Southeastern Iran

OBJECTIVES: Earthquakes are one the most common natural disasters that lead to increased mortality and morbidity from transmissible diseases, partially because the rodents displaced by an earthquake can lead to an increased rate of disease transmission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of plague and tularemia in rodents in the earthquake zones in southeastern Iran. METHODS: In April 2013, a research team was dispatched to explore the possible presence of diseases in rodents displaced by a recent earthquake magnitude 7.7 around the cities of Khash and Saravan in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Rodents were trapped near and in the earthquake zone, in a location where an outbreak of tularemia was reported in 2007. Rodent serums were tested for a serological survey using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In the 13 areas that were studied, nine rodents were caught over a total of 200 trap-days. Forty-eight fleas and 10 ticks were obtained from the rodents. The ticks were from the Hyalomma genus and the fleas were from the Xenopsylla genus. All the trapped rodents were Tatera indica. Serological results were negative for plague, but the serum agglutination test was positive for tularemia in one of the rodents. Tatera indica has never been previously documented to be involved in the transmission of tularemia. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence of the plague cycle was found in the rodents of the area, but evidence was found of tularemia infection in rodents, as demonstrated by a positive serological test for tularemia in one rodent

Hemiculter leucisculus (Basilewsky, 1855) and Alburnus caeruleus Heckel, 1843: New data on their distributions in Iran

This paper provides information on the geographic distributions of two cyprinid species: Hemiculter leucisculus (Basilewsky, 1855) and Alburnus caeruleus Heckel, 1843, in the world and the entire drainage systems in Iran. The new distribution records were taken from Maroon River (Jarrahi River system) and Chardaval River (Karkheh river system), both in Tigris River basin showing wide and narrow distribution ranges of these two cyprinid fishes, respectively. The main introduction sites and distribution range of H. leucisculus is the southern parts of the Caspian Sea basin in Iran from where it has probably been translocated to other Iranian basins along with exotic Chinese carps. Although A. caeruleus is native to Tigris River basin, it had been already recorded only from Gamasiab and Doab rivers in 2009 in Karkheh River system (Tigris) and thus the present study extends its distribution range. In case of alien species, human-mediated fish introductions may increase faunal similarity among primary drainages due to a strong tendency for taxonomic homogenization caused primarily by the widespread introduction of cyprinid fishes. Fish faunal homogenization might be highest in drainages (e.g. Caspian Sea and Tigris basins) subjected to the greatest degree of disturbance associated with human settlement, infrastructure and change in land use. The provided data might be used in conservation program of freshwater fishes of Iran

Effect of Nepeta Menthoides on Cognitive Disorders in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Clinical Trial

Nowadays, given the outbreak of Alzheimer disease (AD) as a global phenomenon, it is absolutely essential to take efficacious measures against it. Heating up the brain is a recommended approach to decrease the symptoms of AD. Furthermore, using hot herb is an effective method to enhance the temperature of the brain. One of the hot herbs is Nepeta menthoides which is known as Ostokhodus and has neuroprotective effects. In the present paper, the effect of Nepeta on the treatment of Alzheimer was studied. A trial was carried out on two groups of AD patients. While the first group was prescribed the capsules of Nepeta extraction, the second group was given the placebo capsules. The results of the taken MMSE inventories from both of the tested groups as the comparison criteria revealed that Nepeta had positive influence on the treatment of AD

On the Role of Renewable Energy Policies and Electric Vehicle Deployment Incentives for a Greener Sector Coupling

Various incentives are introduced for the expansion of electric vehicle fleets and electricity generation from renewable energy resources. Although many researchers studied the effect of these policies on the related sector, there is no study investigating the indirect effect of renewable energy incentives on the deployment of electric vehicles or the indirect effect of electric vehicle adoption policies on the long-term integration of renewable energy resources. The main contribution of this paper is to analyze the impact of the specific incentives on both deployment of electric vehicles in the transportation system and investment in capacity generation in the electricity market. For this purpose, a new framework was designed to analyze the effect of policies on the electric vehicle deployment and development of DC charging stations based on the system dynamics approach. Then, this framework was combined with the existing dynamic models of the electricity market to study the interaction and behavior of both coupled systems from the policymakers' perspective. The effect of policies implementation was interpreted in a mathematical framework and the Net Present Value method was used for assessing the investment in charging infrastructures. Simulation results of a case study in the United States and sensitivity analysis illustrate that increasing the wind capacity incentives accelerated the electrification of the transportation system and increasing the incentives for electrification of transportation system influences wind capacity positively. Moreover, the sensitivity of the electric vehicle adoption to gas price is more than the sensitivity of the wind capacity penetration to gas price

Effect of Nepeta Menthoides on Cognitive Disorders in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Clinical Trial

Nowadays, given the outbreak of Alzheimer disease (AD) as a global phenomenon, it is absolutely essential to take efficacious measures against it. Heating up the brain is a recommended approach to decrease the symptoms of AD. Furthermore, using hot herb is an effective method to enhance the temperature of the brain. One of the hot herbs is Nepeta menthoides which is known as Ostokhodus and has neuroprotective effects. In the present paper, the effect of Nepeta on the treatment of Alzheimer was studied. A trial was carried out on two groups of AD patients. While the first group was prescribed the capsules of Nepeta extraction, the second group was given the placebo capsules. The results of the taken MMSE inventories from both of the tested groups as the comparison criteria revealed that Nepeta had positive influence on the treatment of AD

A trans-inverse coupled-inductor semi-SEPIC DC/DC converter with full control range

© 1986-2012 IEEE. This letter proposes a single switch magnetically coupled dc-dc converter with a high voltage gain. The unique features of the converter are summarized as follows: 1) voltage gain of the converters is raised by lowering its magnetic turn ratio; 2) wide control range (0< D< 1); 3) continuous current from the source that makes it a suitable candidate for renewable energy applications; and 4) there is no dc current saturation in the core due to the presence of capacitor in the primary winding of the inductor. The feasibility of the proposed converter is studied in details supported by circuit analysis and simulation results. Furthermore, the proposed converter is analyzed and compared with other converters with similar features. Finally the superior performance of the circuit is validated experimentally

Magnetized cosmological model with variable deceleration parameter

In this paper, we have derived the field equations in an extended theory of gravity in an anisotropic space time background and in the presence of magnetic field. The physical and geometrical parameters of the models are determined with respect to the Hubble parameter using some algebraic approaches. A time varying scale factor has been introduced to analyze the behavior of the model. From some diagnostic approach, we found that the model behaves as $\Lambda_{CDM}$ model at late time of cosmic evolution.Comment: Accepted version, 9 pages, 15 figures