Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rate distortion analysis of leaky prediction layered video coding using quantization noise modeling

Unlike conventional layered scalable video coding, leaky prediction layered video coding (LPLC) introduces a leaky factor /spl alpha/, which takes on values in the range between 0 and 1, to partially include the enhancement layer in the motion compensation loop, hence obtaining a trade-off between coding efficiency and error resilience performance. In this paper, we use quantization noise modeling to theoretically analyze the rate distortion performance of LPLC. An alternative block diagram of LPLC is first developed, which significantly simplifies the theoretical analysis. Closed form expressions, as a function of the leaky factor, are derived for two scenarios, where drift error occurs in the enhancement layer and no drift occurs within the motion compensation loop. Theoretical results are evaluated with respect to the leaky factor, showing that a leaky factor of 0.4-0.6 is a good choice in terms of the overall rate distortion performance of LPLC.
An adaptive algorithms comparison for real multichannel active noise control

A comparative study of the multichannel Affine Projection (AP), the Fast Transversal Filter (FTF), the filtered-X LMS (FXLMS) and the Recursive Least Squares (RLS) algorithms is presented for active noise control (ANC) systems. This study is based on simulations using real data and laboratory experiments, and is focused on: their computational cost, their convergence properties, their stability and their ability to create quiet zones around listener ears. The performance of the AP algorithm in the real system suggests its use in ANC systems as an alternative to the classical multichannel FXLMS since it provides meaningful attenuation levels, lower convergence time and similar computational cost.
Monte Carlo, harmonic approximation, and coarse-graining approaches for enhanced sampling of biomolecular structure

The rugged energy landscape of biomolecules and associated large-scale conformational changes have triggered the development of many innovative enhanced sampling methods, either based or not based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Surveyed here are methods in the latter class - including Monte Carlo methods, harmonic approximations, and coarse graining - many of which yield valuable conformational insights into biomolecular structure and flexibility, despite altered kinetics. MD-based methods are surveyed in an upcoming issue of F1000 Biology Reports.
Analysis of waveguide aperture coupling using the finite-difference time-domain method

The finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) method is applied to an interior propagation and coupling problem given in the form of aperture coupled waveguides. This problem demonstrates the method's ability to model a rather complex problem where energy not only propagates in a waveguide, but couples to and then propagates within a second waveguide. The coupling consists of a single and a double aperture. The first case establishes modeling requirements and the second case is compared to experiment. Agreement is typically within experimental error, thereby validating the method for this application. Results showed little sensitivity to either mesh dimensions or simulation duration and were achieved using 32 cells for the broad side of the waveguide, 12 cells for the aperture diameter, and 8192 timesteps. <<ETX>>
Asymptotic and discrete concepts for optimal control in radiative transfer

Optimal control problems for the radiative transfer equation and for approximate models are considered. Following the approach first discretize, then optimize, the discrete SPN approximations are for the first time derived exactly and used for the study of optimal control based on reduced order models. Moreover, combining asymptotic analysis and the adjoint calculus yields diffusion‐type approximations for the adjoint radiative transport equation in the spirit of the approach first optimize, then discretize.
Calculating energy loss spectra of NiO: Advantages of the modified Becke-Johnson potential

Walid Hetaba,1,* Peter Blaha,2 Fabien Tran,2 and Peter Schattschneider1,3 1Institute of Solid State Physics, Vienna University of Technology, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10/138, A-1040 Vienna, Austria 2Institute of Materials Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/165-TC, A-1060 Vienna, Austria 3University Service Center for Transmission Electron Microscopy, Vienna University of Technology, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10/052, A-1040 Vienna, Austria (Received 5 January 2012; published 7 May 2012)
Assessing the Statistical and Personal Significance of the Method of Levels

Background: Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) suggests that psychological distress can be conceptualized as the by-product of conflicted control systems. Method: Using a program of psychotherapy based on the principles of PCT called the Method of Levels (MOL), a 12-month study was conducted with 120 patient participants and 4 clinicians. In this study, analyses of statistical significance were conducted. Qualitative data were also analysed to understand psychotherapy from patients' perspectives. Data were collected on the attendance patterns of patients, their ages, referral problem, and socio-economic background. A standardized questionnaire measured pre and post treatment effects. The null hypothesis of no difference between pre and post treatment scores was examined by the derivation of p values and the construction of 95% confidence intervals. Results: In all cases the null hypothesis was rejected. Conclusions: Results suggest that MOL is a useful form of psychotherapy that warrants further investigation.
Secondary electron emission characteristics of dielectric materials in AC-operated plasma display panels

From the measurement of the ion-induced secondary electron emission yield γiit was shown that with increasing γiof the dielectric panel material the firing voltage of an ac gas discharge display panel decreased. The measurement of the energy distributflon of the secondary electrons showed that the dielectric material with higher γihas lower most-probable energy (MPE), and half-width (HW) values. The energy distribution introduced by Stolz in the ease of secondary electrons emitted from a metal was applied to the dielectric panel material and solved by using a computer. From this result, it was shown that the lower the electron affinity of the dielectric panel material, the higher is the γi. Under the condition when γibecame greater than unity, unstable self-sustained emission was observed even though the primary ion beam was cut off.
21-containing c.yclin kinases exist in oth acnve and lnacnve states

In normal fibroblasts CDKs exist predominantly in p21/PCNA/cycl in/CDK quaternary complexes, whereas in p53-deficient cells, p21 expression is depressed and the kinases are reduced to a cyclin/CDK binary state, p21 is a universal cyclin kinase inhibitor, but we show here that p21-containing complexes exist in both catalytically active and inactive forms. This finding challenges the current view that active cyclin kinases function only in the binary state and reveals the subtlety with which tumor-suppressor proteins modulate the cell cycle.
Modelling Social Dynamics (of Obesity) and Thresholds

This paper focuses on the dynamic aspects of individual behavior affected by its social embedding, either at large (society-wide norms or averages) or at a local neighborhood. The emphasis is on how initial conditions can affect the long run outcome and to derive, discuss and apply the conditions for such thresholds. For this purpose, intertemporal social pressure (from peers, from norms, or from fashions) is modelled in two different ways: (i) individual benefit is influenced by the possession of a stock (in the application: weight) and the society wide average, and (ii) individual benefits depend on a norm that follows its own motion, of course driven by agents’ behavior. The topical issue of obesity serves as motivation and corresponding models and examples are presented and analyzed.
Benefits of Seasonal Climate Prediction and Satellite Data for Forecasting U.S. Maize Yield

Seasonal agricultural production forecasting is essential for agricultural supply chain and economic prediction. However, to what extent seasonal climate prediction and remote sensing observations can improve crop yield forecasting at regional scale remains unknown. Using a statistical seasonal forecasting framework for U.S. county‐level maize yield, we demonstrated that (1) incorporating satellite‐based enhanced vegetation index (EVI) significantly improved the yield forecasting performance, compared with other climate‐only models using monthly air temperature (T), precipitation (P), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). (2) The bias‐corrected climate prediction from the Coupled Forecast System model version 2 (CFSv2) showed better yield forecasting performance than the historical climate ensemble. (3) Using the “T + P + VPD + EVI” model with climate prediction from bias‐corrected climate prediction from CFSv2 outperformed the yield forecast in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates reports released by the United States Department of Agriculture, with root‐mean‐square error of 4.37 bushels per acre (2.79% of multiyear averaged yield) by early August.
Pseudoabsence Generation Strategies for Species Distribution Models

Background Species distribution models require selection of species, study extent and spatial unit, statistical methods, variables, and assessment metrics. If absence data are not available, another important consideration is pseudoabsence generation. Different strategies for pseudoabsence generation can produce varying spatial representation of species. Methodology We considered model outcomes from four different strategies for generating pseudoabsences. We generating pseudoabsences randomly by 1) selection from the entire study extent, 2) a two-step process of selection first from the entire study extent, followed by selection for pseudoabsences from areas with predicted probability <25%, 3) selection from plots surveyed without detection of species presence, 4) a two-step process of selection first for pseudoabsences from plots surveyed without detection of species presence, followed by selection for pseudoabsences from the areas with predicted probability <25%. We used Random Forests as our statistical method and sixteen predictor variables to model tree species with at least 150 records from Forest Inventory and Analysis surveys in the Laurentian Mixed Forest province of Minnesota. Conclusions Pseudoabsence generation strategy completely affected the area predicted as present for species distribution models and may be one of the most influential determinants of models. All the pseudoabsence strategies produced mean AUC values of at least 0.87. More importantly than accuracy metrics, the two-step strategies over-predicted species presence, due to too much environmental distance between the pseudoabsences and recorded presences, whereas models based on random pseudoabsences under-predicted species presence, due to too little environmental distance between the pseudoabsences and recorded presences. Models using pseudoabsences from surveyed plots produced a balance between areas with high and low predicted probabilities and the strongest relationship between density and area with predicted probabilities ≥75%. Because of imperfect accuracy assessment, the best assessment currently may be evaluation of whether the species has been sufficiently but not excessively predicted to occur.
On the post-quantum security of encrypted key exchange protocols

We investigate the post-quantum security of the encrypted key exchange(EKE) protocols based on some basic physical parameters of ion-trap quantum computer, and show that the EKE protocol with a 40-bit password will be secure against a quantum adversary with several ion-trap quantum computers. We present a password encrypted no-key protocol to resist middle-man attack, and prove that it is also with the post-quantum security. The analysis presented here is probably of general meaning for the security evaluation of various hybrid cryptosystems.
First Report of Salmonella Serotype Tilene Infection in Korea

Salmonellosis is a common foodand water-borne disease and is also a major zoonosis. Currently, the isolation of rare Salmonella serotypes is increasing every year in Korea. Among them, the Salmonella serotype Tilene was first isolated from two people who visited a hospital located in Andong-si in 2013. Clinical symptoms were weak or non-existent. There was no clear epidemiological connection between the two cases. However, it was assumed that both were independently exposed to a single infectious agent. Perhaps due to their geographical proximity, molecular epidemiological analysis showed the same result between the isolated strains. This serotype has increasingly reported an association with hedgehogs. Recently, the importation of exotic animals, including hedgehogs, as pets has been gradually increasing. Thus, it is recommended that high-risk groups avoid contact with exotic pets. (Ann Clin Microbiol 2016;19: 24-27)
Anatomic features of the neck as predictive markers of difficult direct laryngoscopy in men and women: A prospective study

Background and Aims: Difficult airway assessment is based on various anatomic parameters of upper airway, much of it being concentrated on oral cavity and the pharyngeal structures. The diagnostic value of tests based on neck anatomy in predicting difficult laryngoscopy was assessed in this prospective, open cohort study. Methods: We studied 341 adult patients scheduled to receive general anaesthesia. Thyromental distance (TMD), sternomental distance (STMD), ratio of height to thyromental distance (RHTMD) and neck circumference (NC) were measured pre-operatively. The laryngoscopic view was classified according to the Cormack-Lehane Grade (1-4). Difficult laryngoscopy was defined as Cormack-Lehane Grade 3 or 4. The optimal cut-off points for each variable were identified by using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for each test. Multivariate analysis with logistic regression, including all variables, was used to create a predictive model. Comparisons between genders were also performed. Results: Laryngoscopy was difficult in 12.6% of the patients. The cut-off values were: TMD ≤7 cm, STMD ≤15 cm, RHTMD >18.4 and NC >37.5 cm. The RHTMD had the highest sensitivity (88.4%) and NPV (95.2%), while TMD had the highest specificity (83.9%). The area under curve (AUC) for the TMD, STMD, RHTMD and NC was 0.63, 0.64, 0.62 and 0.54, respectively. The predictive model exhibited a higher and statistically significant diagnostic accuracy (AUC: 0.68, P < 0.001). Gender-specific cut-off points improved the predictive accuracy of NC in women (AUC: 0.65). Conclusions: The TMD, STMD, RHTMD and NC were found to be poor single predictors of difficult laryngoscopy, while a model including all four variables had a significant predictive accuracy. Among the studied tests, gender-specific cut-off points should be used for NC.
Sub-10 nm colloidal lithography for circuit-integrated spin-photo-electronic devices

Patterning of materials at sub-10 nm dimensions is at the forefront of nanotechnology and employs techniques of various complexity, efficiency, areal scale, and cost. Colloid-based patterning is known to be capable of producing individual sub-10 nm objects. However, ordered, large-area nano-arrays, fully integrated into photonic or electronic devices have remained a challenging task. In this work, we extend the practice of colloidal lithography to producing large-area sub-10 nm point-contact arrays and demonstrate their circuit integration into spin-photo-electronic devices. The reported nanofabrication method should have broad application areas in nanotechnology as it allows ballistic-injection devices, even for metallic materials with relatively short characteristic relaxation lengths.
Data Semantics: What, Where, and How?

At the panel held during the last session of the DS-6 conference, four panelists -Leo Mark, Robert Meersman, Sham Navathe, and Arnon Rosenthal -addressed the key questions related to the topic of the conference, related their perspectives to what was presented and discussed at the conference, and suggested research issues in data semantics that they would like to see addressed in the future. The panel was organized, introduced, and moderated by the author. Several conference participants also presented short position statements during the panel. This chapter summarizes the lively and often insightful panel discussion, along with additional thoughts of the author/moderator.
Combining Advanced Information Retrieval and Text-Mining for Digital Humanities

Digital Humanities make more and more structured and richly annotated corpora available. Most of this data rely on well known and established standards, such as TEI, which especially enable scientists to edit and publish their work. However, one of the remaining problems is to give adequate access to this rich data, in order to produce higher-order knowledge. In this paper, we present an integrated environment combining an advanced search engine and text-mining techniques for hermeneutics in Digital Humanities. Relying on semantic web technologies, the search engine uses full text as well as complex embedding structures and offers a single interface to access rich and heterogeneous data and meta-data. Text-mining possibilities enable scholars to exhibit regularities in corpora. Results obtained on the Cartesian corpus illustrate these principles and tools.
Finding Faults: Manual Testing vs. Random+ Testing vs. User Reports

The usual way to compare testing strategies, whether theoretically or empirically, is to compare the number of faults they detect. To ascertain definitely that a testing strategy is better than another, this is a rather coarse criterion: shouldn't the nature of faults matter as well as their number? The empirical study reported here confirms this conjecture. An analysis of faults detected in Eiffel libraries through three different techniques-random tests, manual tests, and user incident reports-shows that each is good at uncovering significantly different kinds of faults. None of the techniques subsumes any of the others, but each brings distinct contributions.
Isotropic Noise Suppression in the Power Spectrum Domain by Symmetric Microphone Arrays

In this paper, we propose a new array processing framework for suppressing isotropic noise in the power spectrum domain. As a theoretical basis, we discuss the characteristics of the isotropic noise covariance matrix and show that it can be diagonalized by a definite unitary matrix when the microphone array has a certain symmetry. By the diagonalization, our method gathers noise components to diagonals of the basis-transformed covariance matrix and restores the power spectrum of the target source in a specified direction from non-diagonal components by Maximum Likelihood (ML) method. We performed simulations which show the efficiency of our method for both stationary noise field and non-stationary noise field situations.
Model Predictive Direct Power Control for a grid-connected converter with an LCL-filter

This paper presents a Model Predictive Direct Power Control (MPDPC) scheme for the control of a three-phase grid-connected Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) converter with an LCL-filter. MPDPC is a variant of Model Predictive Control (MPC) which regulates the output power of the converter within a set of hysteresis bounds, whilst minimising switching frequency and/or losses. By incorporating an Active Damping (AD) strategy which suppresses spectral content around the main resonant frequency of the LCL-filter, MPDPC achieves low levels of grid current distortion at low switching frequencies. Through simulation, it is shown that the proposed MPDPC strategy is capable of offering a significant improvement over the performance of Carrier-Based Pulse Width Modulation (CB-PWM) at the chosen steady-state operating points.
The Computational Complexity of the Correct-Prefix Property for TAGs

A new upper bound is presented for the computational complexity of the parsing problem for TAGs, under the constraint that input is read from left to right in such a way that errors in the input are observed as soon as possible, which is called the "correct-prefix property. " The former upper bound, O(n9), is now improved to O(n6), which is the same as that of practical parsing algorithms for TAGs without the additional constraint of the correct-prefix property.
Identity and proliferation of small lymphocyte precursors in cultures of lymphocyte-rich fractions of guinea pig bone marrow.

Radioautography with 3 H-thymidine was used to examine the proliferative activity of bone marrow lymphoid cells and to identify the precursor cells of small lymphocytes in short-term cultures of lymphocyte-rich marrow fractions. High concentrations of small lymphocytes (nuclear diameters less than 8.0 µ in smears) together with large lymphoid ("transitional") cells (nuclear diameters greater than 8.0 µ) were separated from suspensions of guinea pig bone marrow by centrifugation in linear sucrose-serum density gradients. When such lymphocyte-rich marrow fractions were cultured in vitro the labeling and mitotic indices following either continuous or terminal exposure to 3 H-thymidine indicated that the large lymphoid cells were confined mainly to the pre-DNA-synthetic (G 1 ) and early DNA-synthetic (S) phases at first, but proceeded subsequently through S phase and mitosis. From these data tentative values were derived for the in vitro duration of G 1 (12 hours) and S (13.7 hours). Further cultures were followed radioautographically after a 1-hour pulse of 3 H-thymidine at 6-7 hours of culture. The absolute numbers of labeled large lymphoid cells declined during the subsequent 21 hours but, simultaneously, labeled small lymphocytes appeared and increased progressively in absolute numbers to 44.4 ± 8.1 per cent of the initial numbers of labeled large lymphoid cells. The mean grain count of labeled small lymphocytes was half that of the initially labeled large lymphoid cells. Very few labeled undifferentiated cells other than large lymphoid cells were observed. The results demonstrate that lymphocyte-rich marrow fractions are capable of sustaining the production of small lymphocytes in short-term cultures and that the immediate precursors of marrow small lymphocytes are contained within a population of large lymphoid cells.