Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accurate modeling of noise in quantum error correcting circuits

To my parents, my brother, and the rest of my family. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In 2009, after getting my bachelor's degree from the University of Costa Rica, I decided to go abroad to pursue a Ph.D. This decision had both academic and personal reasons: I wanted to learn about science, but also about life. In these 5 years, I have had the immense fortune to learn about both. First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor Ken Brown. I really don't have enough words to express my gratitude towards him. He opened the doors of his group to me, even though I knew almost nothing about research, quantum mechanics, and programming. He gave me (and all the other lab members) the opportunity to grow academically and the freedom to choose the direction of growth. He introduced me into the fascinating worlds of quantum information and quantum error correction. From him I have learned what science is about. And yet, the two most valuable lessons I'll take from Ken are not even scientific; they're two philosophical maxims. " The important thing is to fail as soon as possible " (supposedly attributed to John Archibald Wheeler) and " All paths lead nowhere, so you have to choose a path with a heart " (adapted from Carlos Castaneda) will guide me for the rest of my life. My committee members have been patient and always eager to help. They have made insightful suggestions during these years.
Cell-wise monitoring of Lithium-ion batteries for automotive traction applications by using power line communication: battery modeling and channel characterization

In Lithium-ion battery systems used for automotive traction applications a communication network is required for monitoring and control functions. We consider the power line communication (PLC) as a good alternative to data transmission buses used up to date in Lithium-ion battery systems, with the main scope consisting in reducing the cable harness and achieving substantial cost savings. We propose a novel battery management concept based on a cell-wise monitoring of the battery. For this, each cell comprises a communication interface for data transmission over the existing power line. In this paper, the properties of Lithium-ion battery systems are investigated with focus on the power line channel transfer characteristics in the frequency band 1 MHz to 100 MHz. We propose a circuit based model of a single cell, which has been fitted to measurement data. The cell model is used as basic block for the modeling of (cascaded) large battery systems and is validated by impedance analysis of typical Lithium-ion batteries. As the channel capacity is strongly affected by noise, measurements were conducted in electric vehicles in order to obtain the noise characteristics of power electronic devices connected to the electric power train.
Differentially private MIMO filtering for event streams and spatio-temporal monitoring

Many large-scale systems such as intelligent transportation systems, smart grids or smart buildings collect data about the activities of their users to optimize their operations. In a typical scenario, signals originate from many sensors capturing events involving these users, and several statistics of interest need to be continuously published in real-time. Moreover, in order to encourage user participation, privacy issues need to be taken into consideration. This paper considers the problem of providing differential privacy guarantees for such multi-input multi-output systems operating continuously. We show in particular how to construct various extensions of the zero-forcing equalization mechanism, which we previously proposed for single-input single-output systems. We also describe an application to privately monitoring and forecasting occupancy in a building equipped with a dense network of motion detection sensors, which is useful for example to control its HVAC system.
The initial luminosity and mass functions of the Galactic open clusters

We aim at the construction of luminosity and mass functions for Galactic open clusters, based on integrated magnitudes and tidal masses. We also aim at studying the evolution of these functions, with the ultimate purpose of deriving the initial luminosity and mass distributions of star clusters, independent of model assumptions regarding the cluster mass-to-light ratio. Finally we aim at a new determination of the percentage of field stars that have originated in open clusters. The integrated magnitudes are computed from individual photometry of cluster members selected from the ASCC-2.5 catalogue. The cluster masses we assumed to be the estimated tidal mass recently published by us elsewhere. Analysis of the cluster brightness distribution as a function of apparent integrated magnitudes shows that the cluster sample drawn from the ASCC-2.5 is complete down to apparent integrated magnitude IV = 8, with 440 clusters and compact associations above this completeness limit. This, on average, corresponds to a completeness area in the solar neighbourhood with an effective radius of about 1 kpc. The observed luminosity function can be constructed in a range of absolute integrated magnitudes IMV = [−10, −0.5] mag, i.e. about 5 mag deeper than in the most nearby galaxies. It increases linearly from the brightest limit to a turnover at about IMV ≈− 2.5. The slope of this linear portion is a = 0.41 ± 0.01, which agrees perfectly with the slope deduced for star cluster observations in ⎛ ⎜ �
Agent based Task Scheduling in Grid

Grid computing is considered to be wide area distributed computing which provides sharing, selection and aggregation of distributed resources. Agent paradigm has been widely used in large number of research area and now a days it is widely used in grid computing. In this paper, we proposed agent based strategy that uses knowledge base reasoning framework for task scheduling in grid which minimizes makespan.
Teaching Students to Make Better Decisions About the Environment: Lessons From the Decision Sciences

One of the fundamental goals of environmental education (EE) is to equip students with the skills to make more thoughtful decisions about environmental issues. Many examples of environmental and science education curricula work to address this goal by providing students with up-to-date information about a myriad of environmental issues from a variety of scientific disciplines. As noted by previous researchers in EE, an emphasis on scientific information, however, does not help to overcome many of the barriers to improved decision making. To help students become better environmental decision makers, educators must also work to incorporate lessons about decision making in conventional EE curricula. This article provides an overview of findings from the decision sciences and behavioral decision research to highlight some of the most common impediments to high-quality decision making. The authors end with suggestions for curriculum development that might help to improve students' decision-making skills regarding environmental issues.
Human myometrium – the ultrastructural 3D network of telocytes

Telocytes (TCs), a novel type of interstitial cells, were recently described in the interstitial space of tissues (www.telocytes.com). Telocytes TCs have several very long, moniliform extensions, namely telopodes (Tps). However, the functional role(s) of TCs is not yet understood. Successive photomicrographs of ultrathin sections were concatenated to capture the entire length of Tps which usually measure tens to hundreds of micrometres. Besides the podoms (dilations) and podomers (thin segments), ultrastructural features of Tps include the dichotomous branching and establishing homo‐ and heterocellular contacts. Telopodes make a labyrinthine system by 3D convolution and overlapping, their number being roughly estimated at approximately 20 per 1000 μm2. Moreover, the presence of extracellular vesicles (shedding vesicles/exosomes) along the Tps suggests an active intercellular signalling (micro‐ and macromolecules), with possible significance in regulating uterine contractility.
Generalized mirror descents in congestion games with splittable flows

Different types of dynamics have been studied in repeated game play, and one of them which has received much attention recently consists of those based on ``no-regret" algorithms from the area of machine learning. It is known that dynamics based on generic no-regret algorithms may not converge to Nash equilibria in general, but to a larger set of outcomes, namely coarse correlated equilibria. Moreover, convergence results based on generic no-regret algorithms typically use a weaker notion of convergence: the convergence of the average plays instead of the actual plays. Some work has been done showing that when using a specific no-regret algorithm, the well-known multiplicative updates algorithm, convergence of actual plays to equilibria can be shown and better quality of outcomes can be reached for atomic congestion games and load balancing games. Are there more cases of natural no-regret dynamics that perform well in suitable classes of games in terms of convergence and quality of outcomes? We answer this question positively by showing that when each player individually employs the mirror-descent algorithm, a well-known generic no-regret algorithm, the actual plays converge quickly to equilibria in nonatomic congestion games. This gives rise to a family of algorithms, including the multiplicative updates algorithm and the gradient descent algorithm as well as many others. Furthermore, we show that our dynamics achieves good bounds on the quality of outcomes measured by two different social costs: the average individual cost and the maximum individual cost.
A Randomized Controlled Study of the Colour of Light Exposure on Attention and Short Term Memory

Colours play an important role in stimulating the learning process of students, which ultimately would enhance their educational experiences. Hence, this study is conducted to determine the effects of exposure on different colours of light on attention and short-term memory among medical students. This randomized controlled trial was conducted among 90 medical students in private medical college in Malaysia, from June to August 2018. They were divided into three groups including blue, yellow and white light group (control group) with 30 participants respectively. Then, attention and memory tests were conducted. The data was analysed using software like Epi Info 7, GraphPad and Microsoft Excel. The mean of attention score percentage of yellow light group 80.7 (8.7) followed by control group 76.8 (9.4) and blue light group 72.1 (10.9) with P value of < 0.05 which is significant. On the other hand, the mean of memory score percentage of yellow light group 72.3 (16.4) is highest followed by control group 62.8 (18.5) and blue light group 57.5 (14.5) with P value of < 0.05 which is significant. In this study, the yellow light group had the highest mean scores compared to yellow light group and control group. Therefore, the yellow light is the most effective light used in improving performances of tasks requiring attention and memory by the students.
A replication study on the effects of weighted moving windows for software effort estimation

Context: Recent studies have shown that estimation accuracy can be affected by only using a window of recent projects as training data for building an effort estimation model. The idea has been extended for regression-based estimation by weighting projects differently according to their order within the window. This significantly improved the accuracy of estimation in a single-company dataset from the ISBSG repository. Objective: To investigate the effects on estimation accuracy of using weighted moving windows with a new dataset, and compare results across datasets. Method: Using a dataset drawn from the Finnish dataset (studied previously with regard to windows but not with weighting), and using a fixed-size window policy, we examine the effect on estimation accuracy of using weighted moving windows. Results: The use of weighting functions could improve the estimation accuracy significantly, compared to using unweighted windows, with larger window sizes. The steepness of the weighting functions affects their effectiveness. However, in this dataset it is better to use a growing portfolio (retaining all past projects as training data) than to use windows. Conclusions: The results reinforce previous studies: the use of weighting functions can significantly improve the accuracy of regression-based estimation, compared to not using weighting, but in this dataset the use of moving windows reduces estimation accuracy.
A New High-Level Reconfigurable Lossless Image Compression System for Space Applications

On board image data compression is an important feature of satellite remote sensing payloads. Reconfigurable intellectual property (IP) cores can enable change of functionality or modifications. A new and efficient lossless image compression scheme for space applications is proposed. In this paper, we present a lossless image compression IP core designed using AccelDSP, which gives users high level of flexibility. One typical configuration is implemented and tested on an FPGA prototyping board. Finally, it is integrated successfully into a system-on-chip platform for payload data processing and control.
A performance evaluation of 2D-mesh, ring, and crossbar interconnects for chip multi-processors

As the number of processing nodes on chip multi-processors (CMPs) keeps increasing, providing efficient communication with the on-chip interconnect becomes increasingly critical. With 32-core CMP designs on the drawing table of engineers, there is a demand for accurate simulation models that capture all the complexities and interactions of the different design layers including the application, operating system, cache hierarchy, coherency protocol, and other on-chip resources. These components cannot be modeled anymore in isolation as unpredicted performance anomalies may arise once all the system variables are taken into account. In this paper, we present a simulation framework for CMP systems, focusing our attention on the on-chip network. We show preliminary results for the choice of key network parameters (topology, flit size) with respect to the behavior and performance of applications running on top of different network configurations. This paper tries to convey the need for an overall CMP system simulator as a way to accurately characterize the actual behavior of the on-chip network.
Analysis of upper arm muscle activation using surface electromyography signals during drum playing

This study measured surface electromyography of the biceps brachii and triceps brachii during repeated drum playing with and without a drumstick to better understand activation of the upper arm muscles and inform the use of instrument playing for motor rehabilitation. A total of 40 healthy college students participated in this study. All participants were asked to strike a drum with their hand and with a drumstick at three different levels of stroke: soft, medium, and strong. The stroke order was randomly assigned to participants. A sound level meter was used to record the intensity of the drum playing. Surface electromyography signals were recorded at every hit during drum playing both with and without the drumstick in each of the three stroke conditions. The results demonstrated that the highest muscle activation was observed in both biceps brachii and triceps brachii with strong drum playing with and without the drumstick. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance showed that there was a significant main effect for stroke intensity in muscle activation and produced sound level. While higher activation of the triceps brachii was observed for drum playing without a drumstick, no significant differences were found between the biceps brachii and sound level. This study demonstrated via surface electromyography data that greater muscle activation of the biceps brachii and triceps brachii does not occur with the use of drumsticks in drum playing. With the drum sound controlled, drum playing by hand can be an effective therapeutic intervention for the upper arm muscles.
Comparing the sensitivity and specificity of cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials and electrocochleography in the diagnosis of Ménière’s disease

Abstract Objective: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of objective cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) tuning curves and electrocochleography (ECochG) for the diagnosis of Ménière’s disease (MD). Design: Sensitivity and specificity were calculated from 95% normative ranges of 500 Hz cVEMP threshold and ECochG SP/AP amplitude ratios. Measures: Extra-tympanic ECochG testing to 90 dB nHL clicks and cVEMP threshold tuning curves (250–1000 Hz). Study sample: We tested 15 patients (30 ears) diagnosed with definite bilateral MD based on the clinical criteria proposed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck surgery, 1995 (assumed gold standard) and 20 controls. Results: 500 Hz cVEMP threshold was the most promising parameter to differentiate MD ears from controls. cVEMP and ECochG showed high specificity (83.3 and 100%, respectively) and low to moderate sensitivity (22.2 and 71.4%) for long term MD. ECochG sensitivity increased to 89% during a symptomatic period, compared to 33% for cVEMP. However, ECochG can be difficult to schedule during symptomatic periods. Sensitivity of cVEMP for the diagnosis of MD appears limited. Conclusions: ECochG has higher sensitivity than cVEMP in the diagnosis of Ménière’s patients, but the ECochG SP/AP amplitude ratio measure is not perfect for the diagnosis of MD.
International Stock Market Integration : A Dynamic General Equilibrium Approach ∗

In this article I study the effects of stock market liberalization on equity risk premia, stock return volatilities and the cross-country correlation of stock returns. In a two-country, continuoustime, dynamic economy, I solve for equilibrium in closed-form under different types and degrees of stock market integration. I find that opening the stock market of only one country to external investors results in a decrease in its equity risk premium and stock-return volatility and an increase in the cross-country stock-return correlation. The volatility of stock returns is increased in the country that does not liberalize its stock market. When both countries open their stock markets to external investors, risk premia and volatilities decrease in both markets and the correlation increases. Furthermore, when the country that opens its stock market is relatively small, the resulting decrease in risk premium is magnified. In contrast, the volatility effect is diminished. Correlation increases are magnified when just the smaller country opens its stock market to external investors, but diminished when two countries of unequal size both open their stock markets. I also show how the dynamic CAPM changes with the level of stock market integration.
Two-dimensional Exponential Discriminant Analysis and its Application to Face Recognition

A novel feature extraction algorithm, named two-dimensional exponential discriminant analysis (2DEDA), is proposed in this paper. The 2DEDA is a generalization of exponential discriminant analysis (EDA). The 2DEDA is base on image matrices. So compared with the EDA, the 2DEDA has higher recognition rate and lower computational complexity. Experimental results demonstrate the advantages of 2DEDA.
Computed tomography and pulmonary measurements.

Computed tomography (CT) was first developed to measure accurately radiographic density, rather than as a method of imaging. 19 Although subsequent development concentrated on the imaging potential of the method, some recent studies have used the ability of the method to quantify radiographic density, to provide precise measurements of lung regions and infer differences in regional properties. CT measures the radiographic density of an array of small discrete parts of the body. Usually, each of these parts in a single tomographic slice is represented as a pixel, and these pixels are displayed as the units of a two-dimensional image. The operator allocates a range of grey shades between black and white (tone range) to a particular range of radiographic densities, so that the densities of interest lie between black and white in the visual image. For example, when the details of lung tissue are of interest in the image, the density window (measured in Hounsfield units, HU) often chosen is from 500 (black) to 200 (white). These settings can be expressed in terms of the window centre and width. Lung tissue, containing a large proportion of air, has a range of radiographic densities much less than other body tissues, for example the soft tissues of the mediastinum. Consequently, details of lung structure can be shown more clearly by expressing this narrow range of low densities over the whole visual range from black to white. The grey scale that shows how the black and white visual image is related to radiographic density is displayed at the edge of most CT images, and can be altered by the operator to enhance the features of interest. Each CT image therefore consists of an array of small squares, each with a discrete grey value, that represents the mean radiographic density of a cylinder of tissue, or voxel. The end is represented in position and area by the pixel, and the length is the thickness of the CT slice. Although the visual image is often altered to improve the contrast of specific features, the original radiographic density values can be used to obtain more specific information about the properties of the materials studied. Radiographic density is the property of materials to absorb electromagnetic radiation. This radiation is exponentially reduced on passage through materials, so that the intensity (I) after passing a distance (x)
In Vivo Expansion of Co-Transplanted T Cells Impacts on Tumor Re-Initiating Activity of Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia in NSG Mice

Human cells from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients are frequently transplanted into immune-compromised mouse strains to provide an in vivo environment for studies on the biology of the disease. Since frequencies of leukemia re-initiating cells are low and a unique cell surface phenotype that includes all tumor re-initiating activity remains unknown, the underlying mechanisms leading to limitations in the xenotransplantation assay need to be understood and overcome to obtain robust engraftment of AML-containing samples. We report here that in the NSG xenotransplantation assay, the large majority of mononucleated cells from patients with AML fail to establish a reproducible myeloid engraftment despite high donor chimerism. Instead, donor-derived cells mainly consist of polyclonal disease-unrelated expanded co-transplanted human T lymphocytes that induce xenogeneic graft versus host disease and mask the engraftment of human AML in mice. Engraftment of mainly myeloid cell types can be enforced by the prevention of T cell expansion through the depletion of lymphocytes from the graft prior transplantation.