Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating force-directed algorithms with a new framework

Force-directed algorithms are widely used in practice for graph drawing. How to evaluate this type of algorithms has been a challenging issue since their performance largely depends on input parameters and thus is not consistent. In this paper, we first review previous approaches used for evaluation of force-directed algorithms. We then present a case study that compares two force-directed algorithms following a newly proposed evaluation framework. This study evaluates the performance of these algorithms in terms of six commonly applied aesthetic criteria and demonstrates how the framework is used. Advantages of this evaluation framework are discussed.
Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Contact Resistance of Metal Foams

Unique specifications of metal foams such as relatively low cost, ultra-low density, high surface-area-to-volume ratio, and most importantly, the ability to mix the passing fluid provide them a great potential for a variety of thermal-fluidics applications. In the present study, a compact analytical model for evaluating the effective thermal conductivity of metal foams is developed. The medium structure is represented as orthogonal cylindrical ligaments that are equally spaced and sized. A unit cell is taken to represent the metal foam. The model accounts for varying cross-sectional ligaments which is consistent with microscopic images. A numerical analysis is performed to verify the proposed analytical models. The model predictions are in good agreement with existing experimental data and the present numerical results. A parametric study is then performed to investigate the effects of variation in ligament cross-section geometry, uniformity, and aspect ratio over a wide range of porosities. Moreover, Thermal contact resistance phenomenon is included in the analysis.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Understanding approval rating of agile project management tools using Twitter

The role of managing a software project can be extremely complicated, requiring many teams and organizational resources. Many people are acknowledging that Agile development is helpful to business, with an high increase over the last years in the number of people who believe that Agile helps companies to complete projects faster. Since there is a multitude of available tools that supports Agile methods, in this position paper we tried to understand which tools are most looked for using Web Search media, most mentioned and most appreciated through Social media. Furthermore, we applied automated Sentiment Analysis on shared short messages of users on Twitter, one of the most popular social networks, in order to analyze automatically developers' opinions, sentiments, evaluations and attitudes.
Active Learning with Model Selection — Simultaneous Optimization of Sample Points and Models for Trigonometric Polynomial Models

In supervised learning, the selection of sample points and models is crucial for acquiring a higher level of the generalization capability. So far, the problems of active learning and model selection have been independently studied. If sample points and models are simultaneously optimized, then a higher level of the generalization capability is expected. We call this problem active learning with model selection. However, active learning with model selection can not be generally solved by simply combining existing active learning and model selection techniques because of the active learning / model selection dilemma: the model should be fixed for selecting sample points and conversely the sample points should be fixed for selecting models. In this paper, we show that the dilemma can be dissolved if there is a set of sample points that is optimal for all models in consideration. Based on this idea, we give a practical procedure for active learning with model selection in trigonometric polynomial models. The effectiveness of the proposed procedure is demonstrated through computer simulations.
Efficient scarf detection prior to face recognition

Face occlusion is a very challenging problem in face recognition. The performance of face recognition system can decrease drastically due to the presence of partial occlusion on the face. One approach to overcome this problem is to first pre-classify faces into two classes: the clean face and the occluded face; then faces in different classes are treated by different recognition systems. In this case an algorithm which is able to automatically detect the presence of occlusions on the face will be a useful tool to increase the performances of the system. In this paper we present a scarf detection algorithm. In the experimental results the performances of the algorithm are reported and compared with state of the art systems.
Optimized Cooperative Diversity for a Three-Node Decode-and-Forward Relay Channels

Due to space limitation, providing space diversity at mobile stations such as handsets or personal digital assistants (PDA) is problematic in mobile ad hoc networks (MANET). Recent studies, however, have shown that extraordinary diversity advantages can be obtained from a relay node in the proximity, which forwards the information from the source to the intended destination node via a diversity path. The diversity in reception can be easily translated into the benefits of increased achievable information rates or reduced outage probability. While previous works had demonstrated that remarkable gains can be achieved from simple fixed-relaying strategies when compared to without relaying, this paper takes an information-theoretic perspective to look into the optimal decode-and-forward (DF) single-relay scheme for 1) maximizing the mutual information between the source and the destination node given the instantaneous channel state information at all the participating nodes (CSIN), and 2) minimizing the outage rate probability given only the statistical channel information at the nodes (SCIN). In particular, we aim to find the optimal time-division between the direct transmission phase and the relaying phase, and the optimal power allocation for the two phases, for a three-node relay channel
Image processing based degraded camera captured document enhancement for improved OCR accuracy

Over the past decade the document analysis and processing related to camera based document images has gained the interest of research community. Nowadays, cameras are easily available in the smart phones that can be carried in the small space of our pockets while being lightweight, portable and relieving us from the burden of walking down to a scanner for a digital copy of a document. But even though capturing a document image through a phone camera appears simple, the chances of obtaining a perfect picture are scanty. As when the picture is captured in an unconstrained environment, there are chances of degradation to creep in that will hamper the visual quality of the document image which further effect the readability(in terms of OCR accuracy). Low quality documents give poor results. Document images contain various degradations such as blur, uneven illumination, perspective distortion, low resolution, smear etc. Quality enhancement is helpful to recognize a camera captured document more accurately and if not completely removing the degradations, it can be used for suppressing them and making the text more readable. This paper evaluates the performance of various deblurring techniques for noisy and blurred camera captured documents.
Conceptual Indexing Using Thematic Representation of Texts

Projet IS RUSSIA d'indexation automatique de texte en russe, basee sur des recherches en linguistique et sur la creation d'un thesaurus. Adaptation de la methode a l'anglais pour presentation au congres TREC 6. Application a des textes concernant la vie sociopolitique (documents officiels et informations)
Pathological T0 Following Cisplatin-Based Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Network Meta-analysis

Purpose: To systematically assess and compare the relationship between various neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens and pCR in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Experimental design: We performed a literature search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for all articles published before March 2015 and according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. There were 17 articles that met the study eligibility criteria and were selected for the final analysis. A direct pair-wise meta-analysis was performed for studies that compared the same regimen. Finally, a Bayesian network meta-analysis was used to indirectly compare the regimens. Results: In a pair-wise meta-analysis, the methotrexate/vinblastine/Adriamycin/cisplatin [MVAC; OR, 4.36; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.71–7.02] and gemcitabine/cisplatin (GC) regimens (OR, 4.92; 95% CI, 2.93–8.24) were significantly associated with a better pCR than RC alone. In a network meta-analysis, there was no significant difference in terms of pCR achievement between the GC and MVAC regimens (OR, 1.14; 95% CI; 0.85–1.70). However, in a subgroup network meta-analysis that only included prospective randomized trials, the MVAC regimen was significantly correlated with a higher rate of pCR (OR, 5.75; 95% CI, 1.96–24.18). Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that a GC regimen was associated with a pCR rate that was similar to that of a MVAC regimen based on retrospective data, but only the MVAC regimen was proven to achieve pCR in prospective randomized trials. Additional prospective randomized trials comparing both regimens will be necessary to establish the optimal neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen. Clin Cancer Res; 22(5); 1086–94. ©2015 AACR.
The High-Yield Segment of the Corporate Bond Market: A Diffusion Modelling Approach for the United States, the United Kingdom and the Euro Area

This study empirically examines the development of the high-yield segment of the corporate bond market in the United States, as a pioneer country, and the United Kingdom and the euro area, as later adopting countries. Estimated diffusion models show for the United States a significant pioneer influence factor and autonomous speed of diffusion. The latter is found to be higher in Europe than in the United States as also macroeconomic factors are considered. The high-yield bond diffusion pattern is significantly affected by financing need variables, e.g. leverage buy-outs, mergers and acquisitions, and industrial production growth, and return or financing cost variables, e.g. stock market return and the spread between the yield on speculative-grade and BBB-rated investment-grade bonds. These findings suggest that the diffusion of new financial products depends on the macroeconomic environment and can be quickly in case of the diffusion from a pioneer country to later adopting countries. JEL Classification: G32, E44
A POMDP-based Model for Optimizing Communication in Multiagent Systems

In this paper we address the problem of planning in multiagent systems in which the interaction between the different agents is sparse and mediated by communication. We include the process of communication explicitly as part of the decision process and illustrate how this single-agent model can be used to plan for communication. We also use the single-agent model to plan in the multiagent scenario, exploiting the sparse interaction between the agents. Our results show that our approach can be used for efficient and effective planning: without incurring the computational complexity of more elaborate multiagent models (such as Dec-MDPs or Comm-MTDPs), we are able to attain good performance in several test domains while planning for communication.
On the measurement of the instantaneous frequency and amplitude of partials in vocal vibrato

In this paper, we analyze some methodological and practical grounds affecting a correct estimation of the instantaneous amplitude (IA) and instantaneous frequency (IF) of the partials of vocal vibrato signals. This particular class of acoustical signals can be described as a set of harmonics, or partials, whose amplitude and frequency vary with time following a particular pattern. The interest in the correct measurement of these two magnitudes stems from the fact that they are widely used to extract more information about the production mechanisms of this vocal effect, and even the singing voice. Focusing on the estimation of these magnitudes from the signal processing point of view, the estimation of the IA and the IF of a partial represents a practical example for the more general problem of the AM-FM decomposition of a bandpass signal, which has received considerable attention by the Time-Frequency community. With this in mind, this work will investigate the most appropriate AM-FM decomposition of the partials, and how it is affected by the reverberation present in recordings. A mathematical description of the effect of reverberation on the measurement will be given. It will be shown that the measurement of the IA and the IF of the partials will be corrupted by reverberation regardless of the employed estimation method
ISOMER: Informative Segment Observations for Multimedia Event Recounting

This paper describes a system for multimedia event detection and recounting. The goal is to detect a high level event class in unconstrained web videos and generate event oriented summarization for display to users. For this purpose, we detect informative segments and collect observations for them, leading to our ISOMER system. We combine a large collection of both low level and semantic level visual and audio features for event detection. For event recounting, we propose a novel approach to identify event oriented discriminative video segments and their descriptions with a linear SVM event classifier. User friendly concepts including objects, actions, scenes, speech and optical character recognition are used in generating descriptions. We also develop several mapping and filtering strategies to cope with noisy concept detectors. Our system performed competitively in the TRECVID 2013 Multimedia Event Detection task with near 100,000 videos and was the highest performer in TRECVID 2013 Multimedia Event Recounting task.
A Fourth-Order Accurate Embedded Boundary Method for the Wave Equation

A fourth-order accurate embedded boundary method for the scalar wave equation with Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions is described. The method is based on a compact Pade-type discretization of spatial derivatives together with a Taylor series method (modified equation) in time. A novel approach for enforcing boundary conditions is introduced which uses interior boundary points instead of exterior ghost points. This technique removes the small-cell stiffness problem for both Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions, is more accurate and robust than previous methods based on exterior ghost points, and guarantees that the solution is single-valued when slender bodies are treated. Numerical experiments are presented to illustrate the stability and accuracy of the method as well as its application to problems with complex geometries.
Admissible evidence: Trustworthy cooperative spectrum sensing based on Dempster-Shafer theory in cognitive radio networks

Cognitive radio (CR) is a promising technology which improves the spectrum utilization. Cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) has been adopted to exploit spatial diversity in cognitive radio networks (CRNs). Since CSS is subject to attacks from malicious users, several secure schemes have been proposed recently. But, they only utilize current information to estimate the reliability of secondary users. In this paper, we propose a trustworthy CSS scheme based on Dempster-Shafer theory. It evaluates the trustworthiness degree of each user with two indicators, which are the current reliability and the historical reputation. Besides, it takes advantage of Dempster-Shafer theory's ability to reflect uncertainty in the evaluation as well. Simulation results have shown that the proposed scheme is effective to counter with different attacks patterns.
The differences of attitudinal and motivational factors amongst students in Qatar and the relationship between these factors and their achievement in English language

This study investigated the relationship between attitudes and motivation, and English language achievement. It also illustrated the influence of sex (males & females) on the attitudes and motivation of students in Qatar. Two main null-hypotheses and sub null-hypotheses were formulated to answer the main research questions of the study. A quantitative approach was implemented in a questionnaire survey, followed by a qualitative study using focus group interviews in order to explore the students` answers in more depth and to cover various issues missed in the questionnaire. The eleven scales of the Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) were adopted with slight adjustments to suit the present study. This instrument was chosen due to its established reliability and validity. In order to estimate population parameters, an independent t-test was used to test for differences between males and females. On the other hand, the Spearman correlation was used to determine the relationship between students’ achievement in English and their motivation and attitudes. The study confirms previous findings and contributes additional evidence to suggest that the socio-educational model is appropriate for a monolingual context like Qatar where English is officially regarded as a foreign language. Moreover, this study contributes to knowledge concerning language learning and confirms Gardner’s (2005, 2010, 2012) argument that if a researcher adapts the full AMTB and selects appropriate items, the findings will corroborate the predictions of the socio-educational model.
Obstacle detection in stereo sequences using multiple representations of the disparity map

Object detection represents an important task in various application fields, such as automotive or assistive technologies. In this context stereo cameras are among the most common devices used for acquiring images and information from the environment. Efficient processing of the disparity maps computed from stereo images represents a crucial step in obstacle detection algorithms. In this paper we provide an application-independent framework for obstacle detection based on disparity processing. In order to identify regions in the 3D environment that can be classified as obstacles we employ multiple representations of the disparity map: V-disparity, U-disparity, θ-disparity. We provide a comprehensive overview of those representations and their use in obstacle detection algorithms. We evaluate the proposed framework in the context of automotive and visually impaired assistive applications, using data from both real and virtual environments.
A novel role of h2‐calponin in regulating whole blood thrombosis and platelet adhesion during physiologic flow

Calponin is an actin filament‐associated protein reported in platelets, although the specific isoform expressed and functional role were not identified. The h2‐calponin isoform is expressed in myeloid‐derived peripheral blood monocytes, where it regulates adhesion. Our objective was to characterize the presence and function of the h2 isoform of calponin in platelets. H2‐calponin was detected in human and mouse platelets via Western blotting. Immunofluorescent staining demonstrated h2‐calponin and actin colocalized in both human and wild‐type mouse platelets at rest and following collagen activation. The kinetics of platelet adhesion and whole blood thrombosis during physiologic flow was evaluated in a microfluidic flow‐based thrombosis assay. The time to initiation of rapid platelet/thrombus accumulation (lag time) was significantly longer in h2‐calponin knockout versus wild‐type mouse blood (130.02 ± 3.74 sec and 72.95 ± 16.23 sec, respectively, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the rate of platelet/thrombus accumulation during the rapid phase or the maximum platelet/thrombus accumulation. H2‐calponin knockout mice also had prolonged bleeding time and blood loss. H2‐calponin in platelets facilitates early interactions between platelets and collagen during physiologic flow, but does not significantly affect the rate or magnitude of platelet/thrombus accumulation. H2‐calponin knockout mice take 2.3 times longer to achieve hemostasis compared to wild‐type controls in a tail bleeding model. The ability to delay platelet accumulation without inhibiting downstream thrombotic potential would be of significant therapeutic value, thus h2‐calponin may be a novel target for therapeutic platelet inhibition.
Predictors of posttraumatic stress and appetitive aggression in active soldiers and former combatants

Background During the period between 1993 and 2005, the people of Burundi were trapped within a violent civil war. In post-conflict regions, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were found to be widespread. At the same time, combatants often reported having perceived committing violence as exciting and appealing, an experience referred to as appetitive aggression. Both of these phenomena hamper the building of a functional and peaceful society. Objective This study aims to investigate the factors that are associated with the level of PTSD and appetitive aggression in former and still active combatants. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 948 male Burundians: 556 active soldiers and 392 ex-combatants. PTSD symptom severity was assessed using the PTSD Symptom Scale Interview, while appetitive aggression was assessed using the Appetitive Aggression Scale. Results Linear regression analyses revealed that the number of traumatic events, childhood maltreatment, and their interaction predicted PTSD symptom severity, whereas self-committed violence did not. The number of traumatic events and self-committed violence were associated with appetitive aggression. Childhood maltreatment alone was not associated with appetitive aggression; however, its interaction with self-committed violence did predict appetitive aggression. When controlling for predictors, ex-combatants reported a higher degree of PTSD symptomatology, whereas active soldiers reported a higher degree of appetitive aggression. Conclusion We conclude that childhood maltreatment is an additional, significant risk factor that exacerbates the psychological consequences of violent conflicts. Self-committed violence may not necessarily engender trauma-related disorders, but is highly related to appetitive aggression.
Extraction of GGO candidate regions from the LIDC database using deep learning

In recent years, development of the computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems for the purpose of reducing the false positive on visual screening and improving accuracy of lesion detection has been advanced. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the world. Among them, GGO (Ground Glass Opacity) that exhibited early in the before cancer lesion and carcinoma in situ shows a pale concentration, have been concerned about the possibility of undetected on the screening. In this paper, we propose an automatic extraction method of GGO candidate regions from the chest CT image. Our proposed image processing algorithms is consist of four main steps; 1) segmentation of volume of interest from the chest CT image and removing the blood vessel regions, bronchus regions based on 3D line filter, 2) first detection of GGO regions based on density and gradient which is selected the initial GGO candidate regions, 3) identification of the final GGO candidate regions based on DCNN (Deep Convolutional Neural Network) algorithms. Finally, we calculates the statistical features for reducing the false-positive (FP) shadow by the rule-based method, performs identification of the final GGO candidate regions by SVM (Support Vector Machine). Our proposed method performed on to the 31 cases of the LIDC (Lung Image Database Consortium) database, and final identification performance of TP: 93.02[%], FP: 128.52[/case] are obtained respectively.